Gyugujo

Gyugujo (牛宮城) is a Japanese yakiniku restaurant brand based in Shibuya, Tokyo. It was founded by comedian Hiroyuki Miyasako, with YouTuber Hikaru initially involved as an investor and later as a promotional manager. The brand originated from a February 2021 YouTube prank in which Miyasako asked Hikaru for a 100 million yen loan to open a yakiniku restaurant; Hikaru agreed, and the project became real. After delays and a brief withdrawal by Hikaru, the restaurant opened on March 1, 2022. It quickly gained popularity, being described as "Japan's most difficult yakiniku restaurant to book" in April 2022, and attracted celebrities such as Egashira 2:50, Takafumi Horie, and Hiroyuki Nishimura. The brand operates a main restaurant and a separate location, Gyugujo Bettei, near Shibuya Station, which specializes in Kobe beef and offers private rooms with art-themed interiors. The menu includes course meals featuring rare cuts of Wagyu, kimchi, namul, japchae, bibimbap, and wagyu aburi sushi. The brand has faced controversies, including a bomb threat in May 2023 that led to police consultation and legal action. Gyugujo is privately owned by Miyasako and remains active in the Japanese restaurant market.

Gyugujo (牛宮城) is a yakiniku restaurant brand in Shibuya, Tokyo, founded by comedian Hiroyuki Miyasako. The project began on February 11, 2021, when Miyasako's YouTube channel released a prank video in which he asked YouTuber Hikaru for a 100 million yen loan to open a yakiniku restaurant. Hikaru agreed, and the project became real. On August 31, 2021, Miyasako announced that Gyugujo, funded by Hikaru and produced by Miyasako, would open in Shibuya in early October. However, on September 28, Hikaru posted a tasting video criticizing the food, citing issues such as bland yam kimchi, too much rice in sushi, hard melon, and poor-tasting beef tongue and meat sushi. Consequently, on October 1, the opening was postponed. On November 11, Hikaru completely withdrew from management, stating that their quality expectations differed and joint management was difficult. Miyasako's team decided to continue alone. On February 28, 2022, it was announced that Hikaru would return as promotional manager, not involved in management. The restaurant finally opened on March 1, 2022. It quickly gained popularity, and by April 2022, it was described as "Japan's most difficult yakiniku restaurant to book." Celebrities such as Egashira 2:50, Takafumi Horie, and Hiroyuki Nishimura visited. On May 29, 2023, a bomb threat against Gyugujo was posted, leading Miyasako to consult police and take legal action. The brand also operates Gyugujo Bettei, a separate location near Shibuya Station that specializes in Kobe beef and offers private rooms with art-themed interiors.

• Prank video leads to real yakiniku restaurant project

• Announcement of Shibuya opening in October

• Opening postponed due to quality issues

• Hikaru withdraws from management

• Hikaru returns as promotional manager

• Gyugujo opens

• Described as Japan's most difficult yakiniku restaurant to book

• Bomb threat leads to police consultation

Premium yakiniku dining with high-quality Wagyu and Kobe beef, offering private rooms for special occasions.

• Kobe beef course

  A course featuring selected Kobe beef with melt-in-mouth fat and rich umami.

• Gyugujo standard course

  Includes specialty harami and 'THE Yukke', a casual way to enjoy Gyugujo's flavors.

• Wagyu aburi sushi

  Seared wagyu sushi, part of the menu.

1. 1【公式】焼肉牛宮城別邸gyugujo-bettei.com
2. 2Gyugujo - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3牛宮城 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org