Nobuo Naito

Nobuo Naito was the owner and chef at Nobusei Japanese Restaurant, located at 7137 N 9th Avenue near the Eastgate Shopping Center from June 30, 1991 until mid-2014. "Nobu" first came to Pensacola from Japan in 1974, where he had been a chef since 1967. Between 1974 and 1991, Nobu was employed at Yamato and Benihana Japanese Restaurants. His most popular items are the hibachi-grilled meals that he both cooks and serves in the immediate presence of his customers, friends, and guests while he entertains them with mostly quick one-liner jokes and comedy. Included in said list are actor Steven Seagal; Yoshukai karate instructors Hiroaki Toyama, Mike Culbreth, Seadog, and Master Yamamoto; retired World Kickboxing Champions Gerry Blanck and Cheryl Wheeler; world champion boxers Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones, Jr, and professional wrestlers Rikishi, The Islanders and Edge. After closing Nobusei, Nobu went to work at Fuji Sushi Bar at 6235 N Davis Highway. When not working, Nobu listed his favorite pastime as fishing.