"Jiro Dreams of Sushi"

Jes's cell phone alarm went off at 4:00 this morning.  Thank goodness we went to bed at 9:00, so we got plenty of sleep.

However...

It was actually worth getting up early as we watched a great DVD she checked out at school.  The title of it was, Jiro Dreams of Sushi.  It is a 2011 documentary of then-85-year-old Jiro Ono who runs the three-star  (by the Michelin Guide) sushi restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, in the basement of a Tokyo subway station.  He is considered the greatest sushi chef in the world.

It was a fascinating documentary. It contains the story of Ono's life, how he got started, the apprentices, his relationship with his sons and grooming of his eventual heir Yoshikazu, his eldest son.  The documentary also has scenes of the famous Tsukiji Fish Market, Ono's hometown of Hamamatsu (including his trip there via bullet train) and a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation of sushi meals.

One does not just drop in to Sukiyabashi Jiro, reservations must be made months in advance and the price of a meal isn't exactly typical of sushi restaurants.  It costs ¥30,000 (roughly $300) per person.

This is such a good documentary that I plan on purchasing it.  Beware!  It shouldn't be watched while having an empty stomach!