Our Story
Rooted in family
For our family, Japango has always been a labor of love. Jon joined the team in 2001, and when the original owner was ready to explore something new in 2008, he turned to him—hoping to keep Japango in the “family.” Jon jumped in with a vision: bring back the original head chef, Iwasan; expand on traditional Japanese cuisine with modern influences; build 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 the helm, and the rest is history.
In 2013, we expanded into the Boulder space you know today, seeing so many of those early dreams come to life. In 2020, as the world came to a halt around us, we welcomed Isla. Three years later, Charley arrived—right alongside the opening of our Fort Collins location. And this year, our third concept, Sugar Salt Sand, opened in April— the universe took that as its cue that we also needed a third kiddo and Baker made his debut in July.
As we step into our 26th year in Boulder and our second in Fort Collins, our gratitude for the guests and team who shape our restaurants only continues to grow. These spaces hold our memories, our milestones, and our hearts—and we’re endlessly thankful to share them with you.
Employment Opportunities
Community Love
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.
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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. We welcomed Tomiko to our team in early 2023 and her astute attention to detail and candid communication, made her an instant standout. Alison joined our team in early 2024 and seamlessly became someone our guests and staff can lean on to shape an unforgettable experience. Quinton joined in Summer of 2025 bringing along immense experience in restaurants across Boulder.
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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 Phil in Boulder and Tyler 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 has been a valued members of the fampango since 2017 when he started as a bartender. He stepped into a management role in 2020 and has become someone we can invariably lean on for everything. Hayden has been with us from Day 1 in Fort Collins and started as an incredibly talented sushi chef. Early this year he did what very few have managed to do and crossed over the line to manage the floor, talk about double threat. Colette, ever the go-getter, splits her time between the bar and managing and is an incredible asset doing both!
