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 a family of 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 Boulder 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 Charley along with our Fort Collins location 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.

Meet the team

From back to front and everywhere in between, staying in business for 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 a long time resident of Loveland, we are so thrilled to have Iwasan guiding our inaugural Fort Collins sushi team
Boulder Team

Meet the amazing crew behind our Boulder operations! Juliette joined the fampango in 2020 and was quickly recognized for her ceaseless drive to craft a memorable dining experiences and support her team. Coy joined in 2022 and as a connoisseur of all things hospitality, he brings his epicurean expertise to every guest. We welcomed Tomiko to our team in early 2023 and her astute attention to detail and candid communication, made her an instant standout. As the newest member rounding out our crew, Alison seamlessly became someone our guests and staff can lean on to shape an unforgettable experience
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. Under the helm of Michael in Boulder and Samm in Fort Collins, our ever-evolving program flows with the seasons, fueled by curious creativity. Each location features an extensive collection of some of the most elusive Japanese and North American Whiskies out there as well as a deep collection of Single Barrel Whiskeys exclusive to Japango.
Fort Collins Team

Introducing the starting lineup for our Front of House Management team! Sean and Jamie have already been valued members of the fampango at our Boulder location and have eagerly 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 and has become someone we can invariably lean on. Jamie joined our team in May of 2023, instilling her extensive restaurant background into becoming a pillar of our team. Joanell brings a unique perspective with her BOH expertise and a compassionate approach to both staff and guests.