To say I was impressed by the timelessness and beauty of this movie would be understating it’s…umami.
Here is a taste of the movie…
“Once you decide your occupation
You must immerse yourself in your work
You have to fall in love with your work
never complain about your job
you must dedicate your life to mastering your skill
That is the key to success and is the key to being regarded honorably.”
Jiro
“Ultimate simplicity leads to purity”
Yamamato (restaurant reviewer) on Jiro’s philosophy
“The techniques we use are no big secret
It really comes down to making an effort
and repeating the same thing every day”
Yoshikazu-eldest son.
“There are some who are born with a natural gift.
Some have a sensitive palate and sense of smell
That’s what you might call “natural talent”
In this line of business
If you work hard you’ll get good over time.
But if you want to reach the next level, you need talent.
The rest depends on how hard you work.”
Yoshikazu-eldest son.
He repeats the same routine every day.
“He sets the standard for self discipline
He is always looking ahead.
He is never satisfied with his work
He’s always trying to find ways to make the sushi better, or to improve his skills.
Even now, that’s what he thinks about all day, every day.”
Yamamato on Jiro
“A great chef has the following five attributes.
First, they take their work very seriously and consistently perform on the highest level.
Second, they aspire to improve their skills.
Third is cleanliness. If the restaurant doesn’t feel clean, the food isn’t going to taste good.
The fourth attribute is…impatience. They are better leaders than collaborators. They’re stubborn and insist on having it their way.
And finally, a great chef is passionate.”
Yamamato
Did I mention he has been doing the same job for 75 years and only takes national holidays off?
His suppliers are all experts from the man who supplies Tuna to the man who supplies the rice.
They only use the best fish.
Many of the philosophies applied by Jiro are timeless in that they work in every field of endeavor.
Including my own.
“I’ll continue to climb to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is!”-Jiro