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 with a beautiful silver skin and vibrant red flesh.
However, despite its beauty, removing its skin cleanly is extremely difficult.

When I first started my training at Sushi Kawa, I admired how effortlessly my senior chefs handled fish.
Watching them work with delicate fish like Stripe Jack, with such focus and precision, left a deep impression on me.
Back when I was a farmer, I worked with soil—now, I work with fish. Life really is full of fascinating turns.

The Art of Skinning Stripe Jack

Skinning Stripe Jack is a true test of my knife skills.
Why is it so challenging? Here are the main reasons:

1. The skin is thin and delicate: too much pressure can tear it easily.
2. The angle is crucial: even a slight mistake in the blade angle will ruin the beautiful silver skin.
3. Consistent speed and pressure: you must pull smoothly and evenly from start to finish.

What’s especially tricky is adjusting the knife’s angle to match the fish’s subtle curves—and peeling the skin off in one fluid motion.
I can’t even count how many times I failed... but that’s what makes the training worthwhile.

From Farmer to Sushi Chef — The Common Ground of Handwork

When I was farming, harvesting and preparing vegetables also required delicate handwork.

In fact, farming and sushi-making share something important:
both are about maximizing the natural beauty of the ingredients.
When I skin a Stripe Jack, my goal is to bring out its full beauty through careful technique.

Facing each ingredient with respect and gratitude—this has been my philosophy since the days of Hirai Farm.

Daily Practice — The Path to Mastery

Since starting my apprenticeship at Sushi Kawa, every day has been a learning experience.
Now that I handle the dinner service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the pressure of serving customers directly has added a new layer of motivation to refine my skills.

Being able to handle delicate fish like Stripe Jack gives me greater confidence as a sushi chef—and I believe it’s a vital skill for working overseas in the future.

Sushi and English — Two Areas of Training

I originally set out to become a sushi chef in order to work abroad.
By combining my self-taught English skills with sushi craftsmanship, I believe I can become a chef who can succeed anywhere in the world.

Especially when serving traditional Japanese fish like Stripe Jack to international customers, it’s crucial to be able to explain their beauty and flavor in English.

For example:
“This is stripe jack, and it requires proper skill to remove its skin.”

Just imagining myself explaining this while preparing the fish in front of customers excites me!

Sushi Catering Services — Now Available!

If you're looking to enjoy authentic Edomae-style sushi in Tokyo, or would like to host a private party with a professional sushi chef, I offer sushi catering services.
Of course, we can also prepare seasonal fish like Stripe Jack upon request.

We also provide English-friendly sushi-making experiences for international guests.
As part of our mission to share Japanese food culture with the world, we’re passionate about these services.

If you're interested, please feel free to contact us.
Sushi Hatake will craft each piece with care and dedication!

Conclusion — Daily Dedication

As the skinning of Stripe Jack shows, the path of a sushi chef is all about continuous practice and dedication.
But the joy of hearing a customer say, “Delicious!” is truly priceless.

I will continue honing my skills, treasuring Japanese food culture, and aiming to become a sushi chef who can soar onto the world stage.
If you, too, are working toward a challenge, let’s keep pushing forward together!

For authentic Edomae-style sushi catering or sushi-making experiences in Tokyo, please leave it to Sushi Hatake.
English support is available!

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