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What I Learned from a Failed Family Food Tour This is the story of a painful failure with a mother and son, how it broke my confidence, and how that experience now shapes the way I welcome families and children in my sushi class. An Unforgettable “Failed Tour” Back when guiding was still a side job for me, and I was slowly building experience, I once led a food tour for a mother and her young son. Looking back, that tour became an “unforgettable failure” that still stings a little when I think about it. After the tour, I received a very harsh negative review from the mother. Up until then, I had mostly guided couples and received many positive […]

Recently, a piece of news from the United States was reported in Japan with a mixture of surprise and fascination. “An accountant changed careers and became a plumber. His salary tripled.” At first glance, it might just sound like a quirky career-change story. But I believe there are at least two larger narratives behind why this news spread so widely: AI has started to threaten white-collar jobs. The rise of AI is turning our old assumptions about “which jobs make money” upside down. And for me, there was a third reason I simply could not ignore this story: I myself have gone through a very similar kind of shift in my own career. I worked in the accounting industry for […]

Planning a family trip to Japan and looking for the perfect sushi-making experience for your child? This guide will help you choose a family-friendly sushi class in Tokyo that truly fits your family, so you can avoid regrets and create unforgettable memories together. A dad struggling to choose the right sushi class in Tokyo Your family trip to Japan is just one month away. Because your child loves sushi classes, you’ve picked up your phone and started searching for “the perfect sushi experience in Tokyo” to give them. But then, all the sushi classes that come up in the search results look more or less the same. The photos and descriptions all blur together, and nothing really stands out. You […]

When a family walks into my sushi studio in Tokyo—parents, kids, sometimes two teenagers still fighting off jet lag—most people see the start of a fun sushi lesson. I see something a little different. I see a father who has carved out one precious week from a busy life. I see children who will remember this trip long after they forget which shrine was which. And I see a few short hours that I must turn into something worth traveling across the world for. In many cases, I also know this: I might be the very first Japanese person this family has a real conversation with. That thought quietly shapes everything I do. 1. A 12-year-old boy in Boston Whenever […]

You love sushi.You already know how to shape basic nigiri from online lessons.You have a local Asian supermarket where you can buy tuna, salmon, and hamachi. Now you’re finally coming to Tokyo.On your list is a very special mission: “I want to buy my very first real Japanese knife in Kappabashi Kitchenware Street.” You imagine inviting friends and family to your home,laying out beautiful slices of fish,and serving a sushi platter that makes everyone say,“Wait… you made this?” If that’s you, this article is for you—especially if you’re a woman who loves sushi and is about to choose her first Japanese sashimi knife. Wait a second… most people don’t know they’re about to make a mistake When you walk into […]

You’re planning your first trip to Tokyo with your family.Your kids love sushi, and you’d love to give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience: making sushi together in Japan. You open Google and type: “sushi making class Tokyo with kids” Dozens of options appear.Some look like serious cooking schools.Some look like tourist traps.All of them say, “We are family-friendly.” So how do you actually choose a sushi class that: keeps your kids engaged, is fun for adults too, and becomes one of the best memories of your trip? As a sushi chef and guide who hosts families from all over the world, I’d like to share a simple way to choose the right class—plus a real story from one of my family […]

Welcome from Dallas, Texas! Salmon, Squid, Surf Clam, A5 wagyu beef, Otoro tuna, Chutoro tuna, Lean tuna,  Mackerel, Scalop, Boiled shrimp, Snapper, Sweet shrimp, Horse mackerel and Tamago. We normally enjoy more than 10 pieces of sushi so as we enjoy the variety in the sushi culture.

Imagine you’re at a sushi class, but instead of just learning how to shape nigiri, you’re handed a large fillet of tuna and a spoon. The task: to extract fresh, rich, and flavorful tuna meat from the bones—also known as “nakaochi”—a rare and highly coveted cut of fish found between the bones of a tuna’s spine. The freshness of the meat combined with the unique method of scraping it from the bones makes this an experience that you can’t easily replicate in your kitchen—or anywhere else, for that matter. In this part of the class, the focus isn’t just on individual work but on teamwork. As seen in the photos above, the experience is even better when done together, especially […]

In the ever-evolving world of luxury travel, offering unique, hands-on experiences is essential to impress discerning clients. As travel consultants, concierges, or other industry professionals, you are always on the lookout for authentic and memorable activities that your guests will talk about long after their trip. One such experience that perfectly fits the bill is our sushi class in Tokyo. However, this is not your average “learn to roll sushi” class. It’s a fully immersive experience that engages participants from start to finish, ensuring they take home not only the techniques but also cherished memories. Here’s why our sushi class goes beyond the ordinary, providing participants with a deeper, more interactive experience: 1. Engaging with Tuna: The Foundation of Sushi […]

When I first started offering sushi classes, I never imagined that many of my guests from the United States would be professionals working for some of the most well-known companies in the world. It’s not something I usually ask them about—after all, they’re here on vacation, and I want them to leave work behind and enjoy the moment. However, through casual conversation, I often learn about their occupations, and I’m always amazed by their dedication and hard work.   Reflecting on my own life, I remember a time when I was part of the Ernst & Young team, living a fast-paced, stress-filled existence in the accounting industry. If you had told me ten years ago that I would leave that […]