Our Story

Rooted in family

For our family, Japango has been a labor of love from the start. Jon joined the Japango team in 2001 and when the original owner wanted to explore something new in 2008, he turned to him hoping to keep Japango in the “family”. Jon was excited to bring back the original head chef, Iwasan, with goals to expand on traditional Japanese cuisine with modern influences, introduce an innovative bar program and grow into restaurants our guests could call a second home. Erin joined the restaurant the same year Jon took it over and the rest is history! In 2013, we expanded into the space we know today, seeing so many of the goals Jon set out to achieve come to fruition. In 2020 as the world halted all around us, we welcomed Isla into the Japango family and little Charley followed 3 years later. As we enter our 25th year in Boulder and first year in Fort Collins, our gratitude for the guests and the team that shape the restaurants we love, only continues to grow.

Japango owners family photo with their baby

Meet the team

From back to front and everywhere in between, staying in business for almost 25 years doesn't happen without the hard work and dedication of an incredible team, and we're so grateful for the people who keep this operation rolling. We have been lucky enough to work with many of the same people for over a decade… in some cases two! From the hosts that greet you to the experience of dining with our chefs, we hope you feel the sense of family we bring to the table.

Yukiji Iwasa

Master Sushi Chef
See what he’s Reeling in

We’ve had the great fortune of over 20 years with Iwasan at our helm. Born and raised in Nagano, Japan, he started his master sushi chef training at just 15 years old. While his background promises a certain level of honed tradition and technique, his young-at-heart spirit and dedicated team assure there is always something exciting. As we set our sights on Fort Collins, Iwasan will be integral in guiding chefs at both locations
Boulder Team

General Manager
Daniel joined us as a server in 2018 and was quickly recognized for his incredible work ethic. He soon found his niche as a manager and became our general manager in 2020, putting out fires and keeping the smiles coming all day long. When he is not keeping the wheels of the restaurant turning, he is happily spending time with his wife, dogs and adorable new daughter anywhere outdoors
Bar Team

Enter the Laboratory

Whether you’re in need of a perfectly crafted cocktail, a whiskey you can’t find anywhere else, or just an ear to listen, these folks have you covered. Our ever-evolving program flows with the seasons, is fueled by curious creativity and features an extensive collection of some of the most elusive Japanese and North American Whiskies out there. Our Fort Collins location will feature all of your Boulder favorites plus some new magic unique to our northern team.
Fort Collins Team

General Manager & AGM
Meet the starting lineup for our Front of House Management team! Sean and Jamie are already valued fampango members at our Boulder location and are ready to hit the ground running as the GM and AGM in Fort Collins. Sean started at Japango in 2017 as a bartender, stepping into a management role in 2020. Jamie joined our team in May and has proven over and over to be a huge asset for her extensive knowledge