Hello, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to share an experience I had during a visit to Toki Onsen KAMABA in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture — a moment that reminded me of my roots as a sushi chef and the meaning of “resetting” or “centering” oneself. It felt as if each piece of pottery … Read more

Hello, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to share a personal and heartwarming story I recently experienced. A Nostalgic Reunion: What Time Teaches Us The other day, I had the chance to meet up with a former coworker for the first time in about three years. We used to work together about ten years … Read more

Hello, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to share a small but meaningful story about cultural exchange that happened while I was on my way back to my hometown. An Unexpected Encounter Today, as I was heading to the highway bus terminal to return home, I was suddenly approached by a foreigner. He was … Read more

Hello, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I want to share my thoughts on what it means to be a true professional, something I deeply felt during my training at Sushikawa in Sasazuka. The Moment I Witnessed Professional Service It’s been a while since I started working at Sushikawa, but the other day, I had the … Read more

Hello everyone, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’m stepping away from my usual sushi topics to share a recent smartphone trouble I encountered—and how I solved it. Recently, I had a small but serious problem with my phone: LINE notifications stopped coming through completely! Even when I received messages or calls, there were no pop-up … Read more

Hello, this is Sushi Hatake. Today, I’d like to share an exciting discovery about one of Japan’s most beloved beers — Yebisu Beer. An Unexpected Encounter The other day, I stopped by an izakaya (Japanese pub) on my way home from work and casually ordered a Yebisu Beer. As I waited for it to be … Read more

Hello everyone, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to talk about shari — the sushi rice — which I believe represents the very heart of sushi-making. Shari Is the Soul of Sushi In my view, shari (seasoned rice) is the most important element in sushi. And I’m sure many other sushi chefs would agree. … Read more

Hello everyone, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to talk about one of the fish that truly tests my skills as a sushi chef: the Stripe Jack (Shima-aji). Encountering Stripe Jack — The Beginning of a Challenge Are you familiar with Stripe Jack? As you can see in the photo, it’s a stunning fish … Read more

Hello everyone, this is Sushi Hatake! Today, I’d like to have a slightly more serious conversation. When you’re about to make a major life decision, what do you think about most? Especially when facing financial uncertainty, how do you deal with it? From Office Worker to Farmer, and Then to Sushi Chef I (Sushi Hatake) … Read more

Hello everyone! This is Takehiro Hirai, also known as Sushi Hatake. Today, I’m excited to share a new milestone in my life. At the age of 43, I graduated from The Open University of Japan and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree! Life Takes Unpredictable Paths Looking back, my journey has been anything but … Read more