Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

Directed by: David Gelb | 83 minutes | documentary | Starring: Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu Ono

The secret to the best sushi maker in the world? ‘Utter simplicity makes purity’. This is the great and seemingly simple secret of 85-year-old master chef Jiro Ono and the reason that his apparently simple sushi tastes so pure and fresh. Jiro Ono’s sushi has been known for years as the best in the world. And while simplicity may be the secret to the success of the sushi itself, the same cannot be said of its creator. Jiro Ono is a perfectionist as you rarely see them. His boundless love for cooking in general and this dish in particular has kept him head and shoulders above other sushi chefs for many years. With the documentary ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ we are treated to a glimpse into the kitchen of this intriguing personality.

Jiro Ono’s perfectionism is evident in everything. His employees don’t always have it easy. For example, an apprentice cook says that he made four omelettes a day for six months until finally there was one that met the master’s requirements. But it was well worth it, he must admit. The restaurant that Jiro runs, called Sukiyabashi Jiro with the maximum three Michelin stars, is located in the heart of Tokyo and seats just ten people. For a meal, about 30,000 yen (roughly 300 euros) can be asked. There is often a waiting period of several months to be able to go there.

New York-born director David Gelb, who discovered the Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant as a sushi fan during previous trips to Japan, has made ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ more than a tribute to Jiro Ono. The other employees of the restaurant, including his eldest son and heir to the throne Yoshikazu Ono, also have their say in detail. Jiro even has to admit that his work has only become easier in recent years and 95% of the work is now done by his staff. Almost shocking is the revelation that Yoshikazu was responsible for the three-star sushi and not Jiro himself. And so this documentary is full of more fun revelations, such as that of Jiro who indicates that he has never worked a day with reluctance (he has been working for 75 years now) and who regularly wakes up at night because he has a new sushi recipe in his dream. thought he mustn’t forget.

‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ is a wonderful documentary that radiates the love for sushi from both the makers and, of course, the master himself. The images, which were shot outside the restaurant itself in the fish markets of Tokyo and portray the entire process of making sushi, are supported by very appropriate music. Yet it is the almost artistic way in which the sushi itself is portrayed and the joy with which Jiro talks about his passion that characterize the documentary. You definitely don’t have to be a fan of this dish to appreciate it. A sushi meal at Jiro is like a symphony, one of the guests tells us and after watching this documentary you will understand why. It is not wise to watch ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ on an empty stomach, because the end result is mouth watering.