Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi Dies at 67 – LAmag

Los Angeles Magazine has confirmed through sources that master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi has died. He was 67. His cause of death is unknown

Uechi was one of the defining figures of Los Angeles sushi culture. The Okinawa-born chef opened Sushi Katsu-ya in Studio City in 1997, building a loyal following and helping shape the city’s appetite for inventive, high-end Japanese dining.

His influence extended well beyond one restaurant. Dishes associated with Uechi, including crispy rice with spicy tuna and yellowtail with jalapeño, became fixtures of modern sushi menus across Los Angeles and beyond. Through the Katsu-ya restaurant group and later collaborations, his name became synonymous with a polished, distinctly L.A. style of Japanese cuisine.

Credit: Jakob Layman

For decades, Uechi was respected not only for his technical skill, but for his ability to make sushi feel both elegant and approachable — a balance that helped turn Katsu-ya into a Los Angeles institution.

His death marks the loss of a chef whose impact can still be felt across the city’s dining landscape.

This is a developing story.