Sukiyabashi Jiro, located in Tokyo’s Ginza district, is one of the world’s most famous and pricey sushi bars. Yet one can get in there right from the underground, and this three-starred Michelin restaurant doesn’t even provide a WC.
Sukiyabashi Jiro founder and chef Jiro Ono turned 85 at the time this picture was made. The secret of his success is simple but hard to repeat: during almost his entire life, since 1951, Jiro has been doing the same job daily, and each day aiming to do it better. There is no other secret knowledge in it except for total samurai self-denial: before being hired to work at Sukiyabashi Jiro, everyone has to go through an unpaid ten-year internship there. What is there in return? The happiness of being an artist and the best at your job. This is exactly what Jiro thinks, who invents new recipes even while sleeping, and shares his observations with his sons—who have been helping him for decades—and students.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Director David Gelb
Japan, 2011. 81 min. 16+
