The culinary thread running from Greenland to Copenhagen and thence to Hokkaido and the rest of Japan may not be immediately obvious. But those are some of the key points on the line of inspiration behind a new restaurant that will open in Tokyo in late June.

Called Inua — from the Inuit term for the life force that runs through nature — this new venture aims to bring together two very contrasting culinary cultures that are currently sharing the global gastronomic spotlight. Denmark has become a standard-bearer for the movement known as New Nordic cuisine, while Japan is now the preeminent destination for gourmet travelers.

Inua, which opens on June 29, will be helmed by German-born chef Thomas Frebel, who spent 10 years at the renowned Danish restaurant, Noma, which four times over the past decade was awarded the title of the world’s best restaurant. During that time, he was head of research and recipe development.