Hello everyone! This is Sushi Hatake.
The other day, I went back to my hometown in Gifu Prefecture, and my mother showed me a cardboard box full of ginkgo nuts.
“I picked these up. I’m going to sell them at the morning market.”
…Mom, you’re way too resourceful.
The bags had handwritten labels like “200g” on them—she was in full business mode. And when I asked more, she told me she’s not just selling ginkgo nuts, but also persimmons and kiwis that she gets from friends and neighbors.
Wait a minute. That means her procurement cost is basically zero?
While I’m commuting to Tsukiji market in Tokyo to buy fish, my mother has been mastering the ultimate procurement strategy of “pick it up” and “get it for free” in Akechi Town, Ena City. Her business model is too perfect. As her son, I feel like I’m losing somehow.
The Surprising Connection Between Ginkgo Nuts and Sushi
If you’re thinking “Ginkgo nuts and sushi? What’s the connection?”—think again.
You know chawanmushi, right?
That golden steamed egg custard served at sushi restaurants. That fluffy, warm dish with little yellow nuggets hiding inside. Yes, ginkgo nuts.
Chawanmushi is actually an important supporting player in an Edomae sushi course. Having warm chawanmushi between pieces of sushi resets your palate, allowing you to enjoy the next piece even more. And ginkgo nuts play a starring role in that dish.
In other words, my mother has unknowingly been supporting sushi culture. (Okay, that’s a stretch.)
…However, I can’t serve chawanmushi at my catering sushi service. The equipment doesn’t allow for it. Sorry. I finally made the connection, and now it’s broken.
The Common Thread: “Delivering What’s in Season”
That said, I think there’s something in common between what my mother does and my work.
My mother picks ginkgo nuts in the mountains, gets persimmons and kiwis from neighbors, and sells them at the morning market. I select fish at the market and turn them into sushi to serve to customers.
The form is different, but the essence is the same: “Identifying what’s in season and delivering it.”
…Okay, I’m being a bit pretentious.
To be honest, watching my mother run a zero-cost procurement business, I thought, “Wait, isn’t her profit margin insane?” As her son, I’m genuinely jealous of her business talent.
About Akechi Town, Ena City
My mother lives in Akechi Town, Ena City, known as “Japan Taisho Village”—a town full of Taisho-era romantic atmosphere. It’s about an hour’s drive from Gero Onsen, which I visited recently. The Tono region of Gifu Prefecture is rich in mountain bounty.
Growing up in this environment, the mindset of “get it for free” and “pick it up” came naturally. I spent five years as an organic farmer in Gifu, so I understand that feeling well.
Living in Tokyo, it’s easy to forget, but food originally exists as a blessing from the land.
What I Learned from My Mother’s Business
・The cheaper the procurement, the better (obviously)
・Personal relationships are the best procurement routes (good neighbor relations matter)
・Don’t forget “picking things up” is an option (hard to do in Tokyo though)
…The last one isn’t really applicable to my work as a sushi chef, but I’ll keep it in mind.
Conclusion: A mother who picks ginkgo nuts and sells persimmons and kiwis she got for free. Zero procurement cost—the ultimate business model. Meanwhile, her son in Tokyo is paying regular prices for fish. Complete defeat.
Bonus: Our Cats Relaxing at the Family Home
By the way, here’s how our cats were doing during the visit home.
Completely melted in front of the kerosene heater.
I brought our cats from Tokyo, but once they discovered the warmth of the heater at my mother’s house, they refused to move. Orange tabbies, a white cat, a tuxedo cat… all lined up facing the heater like they’re worshipping something.
Disciples of the Heater Religion.
By the way, only one cat went to my mother. The rest all chose the heater.
Mom, you’re losing to the cats… No wait, the heater is just too powerful. Yeah, let’s go with that.
My mother picks ginkgo nuts to sell at the morning market, the cats are training in front of the heater, and I, her son, go back to Tokyo to make sushi.
What even is this family?
But well, it’s nice to have time to relax at home like this. The house has a small courtyard where the cats can sunbathe on nice days. It’s a luxury you can’t have in a Tokyo apartment.
Anyway, it’s time for me to head back to Tokyo and get back to making sushi. The cats will stay at my mother’s place for a little while longer.
…They look like they don’t want to go back, but hey guys, we ARE going back to Tokyo, okay?
Authentic Edomae Sushi in Tokyo
If you’re craving authentic Edomae sushi in Tokyo, please reach out! For catering sushi and sushi-making experiences, leave it to Sushi Hatake! (I pay proper prices for my ingredients, by the way.)