Jiro Dreams of Sushi

About Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a fascinating 2012 documentary directed by David Gelb. The film chronicles the life of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant, on his continual quest to perfect the art of sushi. The restaurant is a 10-seat, sushi-only eatery located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin Guide rating, and sushi lovers from around the globe make pilgrimage.

Making / Production

David Gelb originally intended to make a more broad documentary on sushi, but chose to focus on Jiro after tasting his sushi. The film was shot primarily in Tokyo, Japan and Yamagata, Japan. It was produced by Kevin Iwashina and Tom Pellegrini.

Actors

• Jiro Ono: The 85-year-old sushi master, Jiro Ono remains an inspiration for his dedication, passion, and obsession for his craft. Ono plays himself, demonstrating his tireless dedication to the art of sushi.
• Yoshikazu Ono: As heir apparent to Jiro Ono, Yoshikazu faces the relenting pressure to meet his father's high standards. He also plays himself in the documentary, showing the challenges of living up to his father's legacy.
• Takashi Ono: Takashi, another son of Jiro, also a sushi chef, has his own restaurant. He plays himself and brings a different perspective on the sushi industry in Japan.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The restaurant featured in the film, Sukiyabashi Jiro, seats only ten people and usually has a month-long waiting list for a reservation.
• Jiro Dreams of Sushi was David Gelb's feature directorial debut.
• The film was primarily a father and son story, in which the sons must live and carry forward their father's legacy.

Awards

While it did not win any awards, Jiro Dreams of Sushi was highly praised and was nominated for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Documentary, and selected as a Critic's Pick by the New York Times.

Quotes

• "In order to make delicious food, you must eat delicious food. The quality of ingredients is important, but one must develop a palate capable of discerning good and bad. Without good taste, you can't make good food. If your sense of taste is lower than that of the customers, how will you impress them?" - Jiro Ono
• "I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I'll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is!" - Jiro Ono

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by Rael Jones. Heavily featuring classical music, including pieces by Philip Glass such as "Opening" from Glassworks, "Floe" from Glasspieces, and "The Grid" from Koyaanisqatsi.
• Original songs, "Sushi", "Jiro" and "Yasuda san" were composed by The Ontic.