One of the reasons I/people love to travel, and love Japan in particular, is the food. Food is culture, and through eating and drinking you begin to feel a sense of connection to the land, to the people, to the history. Meals can bring people together and break down barriers.

We found a small izakaya near our apartment called Shinkichi. Sitting at the sushi counter, we ordered from the English menu and said things like “sake?” The chef, a young guy willing to try his English with us, had visited New York City, and cooked his specialty for us. I still don’t know what it was, but it was some kind of fried fish/vegetable cake and perfect for eating with cold beer. He asked if we liked wasabi. We nodded enthusiastically. He delivered a small sushi roll - the most intense wasabi I’ve ever eaten! I was getting nervous that we wouldn’t have enough yen to cover our bill. So we got our check , and it was $40!

We went back the next night. They were so happy to see us! We couldn’t understand more than 5 words between us, but that was no worry! With more yen in our pockets and our new friends, we were treated to an incredible meal. Shredded cabbage salad, tiny fried shrimp, amazing sushi - and whole fried fish. The chefs brought out a whole raw fish and insisted we must try this.

I did not recognize the fish, it was black with big scales and spiny fins. Of course we didn’t refuse.

We enthusiastically agreed. They brought the special fish back to the kitchen and grilled it whole - we ate it all, and it was really, really, good. After we finished it (maybe that was the first test?) they brought out the grilled spiny fins, and we ate those too.

January 15th, 2023

October 15-18, 2022

February 8th, 2022

October 1st-14th, 2019

November 6th, 2019

February 9-12, 2019

January 15^th, 2023

February 8^th, 2022

November 6^th, 2019