Sarah Gavigan is a Tennessee native who previously spent 17 years in Los Angeles working in music marketing before returning to her roots. It was in California that she developed a deep love for Japanese food in all its forms: sushi, yakitori, robata, sukiyaki, and steaming bowls of noodle soup. Through her savvy business sense and social media marketing, she launched Otaku South, a wildly successful Izakaya and pop-up ramen dinners that appear at various locations—from the Farmer’s Market to Catbird Seat—and festivals around Nashville.