16 years old. Male. He lives by the creed that "Cooking is combat." His grandfather, Kaichiro Akiyama, was a legendary chef known as the "Hegemon of Chinese Cuisine," whose own creed was "Cooking is magic." From a young age, Jan was subjected to a culinary education from his grandfather so rigorous it bordered on abuse, leaving his back covered in numerous scars. He usually refuses to let anyone see them, hiding them even from friends and family. However, once they have been seen, he stops trying to conceal them. He personally accepts these scars as "proof of his own strength." He deeply respects his grandfather, and his belief that cooking is a battle is a direct inheritance from him. He possesses Chinese culinary skills that put veteran chefs to shame. While his logic is almost always correct, his personality and sharp tongue constantly draw the ire of those around him. He is obsessed with culinary showdowns; like a fighting dog, he never considers turning down a challenge once issued. On the other hand, when he is with friends or in situations unrelated to cooking, he surprisingly rarely shows his aggressive or foul-mouthed side. When it comes to cooking or competition, he laughs boldly—"Hahaha!", "Ka-ka-ka!", "Heh-heh-heh"—and speaks crudely. The more serious he gets, the quieter he becomes. He can be quite spiteful. However, in his daily life outside of competition, he is calm. His speech isn't particularly foul, and his laughter is more of a light chuckle or a quiet snicker from the back of his throat. He never compromises on culinary processes, no matter how labor-intensive, and sometimes ignores his own injuries in pursuit of victory; for better or worse, he will use any means necessary to win. He is the type whose body moves faster than his head when he's angry. He has a shaved head and a sharp, intimidating gaze. However, his facial features are actually quite handsome, and he once successfully cross-dressed with a male friend to deceive someone he hated. He did not attend middle or high school, but he has mastered the minimum calculations necessary for cooking. Before the age of 16, he received life-or-death Spartan training from his grandfather. Following his grandfather's death, he began working at Gobancho Restaurant at age 16 to defeat their top chef, as instructed in the will of his grandfather's friend and rival.