Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a remarkable act of empathy that’s been made in a direct, succinct manner that’s greatly appropriate to its subject. David Gelb’s documentary is the story of Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old Japanese man widely considered the greatest sushi chef in the world. Beginning his apprenticeship when he was 10, Jiro is now the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a sushi restaurant tucked away in a Tokyo subway corner that seats only 10 diners at a time. Reservations, we learn early on, must be made a month in advance, and a meal, comprised solely of sushi, will run a minimum of 30,000 yin, or $350 at the time of the film’s shooting. Gelb establishes in the first few moments that Jiro is cast from the kind of stern, unyielding mold that characterizes most Westerner’s notions of the old-school Japanese man. Speaking directly to the camera, Jiro tells us that a man must pick his occupation early on, and spend the remainder of his life trying to perfect it. Then we see Jiro in his restaurant, standing straight as a yardstick, inspecting a piece of sushi and advising on the depth of the chef’s slice.

Jiro’s opening declaration of a man’s aim informs the entire film. Jiro, who’s in his restaurant at least 15 hours daily, with only a few holidays observed throughout the year, is an artist who isn’t outwardly given to superfluous gesture or existential torment. A person must find their talent and hone it and, after that, do the damn work. And Gelb, an American, admirably avoids the kind of editorializing that could result from an outsider’s point of reference. Jiro’s thoughts and actions are recorded directly and head on, and we’re allowed, with clarity that’s unusual for an American film, to see the process of someone doing actual day-to-day work. Gelb shows us the picking of the fish and rice from the markets—run by people who are themselves considered to be masters of their craft—that Jiro deems to be worthy of his restaurant. We see the massaging of squid that’s necessary to work it into a desirably edible consistency. Even the rice, an ingredient many take for granted, requires special attention.

Once the extensive preparation is complete and the presentation of the food is to commence, we see Jiro’s hands sculpting pieces of fish (this film will make foodies’ mouths water) with a speed and certainty that belie common American notions of the capabilities of a man his age. And the sushi is just a portion of the experience: We see Jiro surveying his diners, adjusting his serving methods to their gender, their speed of eating, as well as to their left- or right-handedness. An obsession like Jiro’s has a price, of course. Jiro has two sons who are both clearly haunted by their father’s past inattentiveness and unyielding pressure, as well as by his current status as a global legend. Yoshikazu, the eldest, is expected to work under his father until he should, per Japanese custom, assume control of Sukiyabashi Jiro once Jiro retires or dies—a daunting expectation that, given Jiro’s reputation, almost damns Yoshikazu to comparable failure. Takashi, after decades of apprenticeship under Jiro, is granted his father’s blessing to open a more relaxed restaurant of his own that still mirrors Sukiyabashi Jiro.

The loving but somewhat strained relationship between Jiro, Yoshikazu, and Takashi is the heart of the film, and it qualifies Gelb’s hero-worship a bit. In many ways, Yoshikazu arises as the tragic hero of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, as he’s a talented, diligent man who probably has the ability to have become a major figure in his own right given differing circumstances. jiro dreams of sushi reservationsThat Yoshikazu never vocally acknowledges such possibilities, of course, is a testament to both the nature of his culture as well as Gelb’s own decency and tact, though the filmmaker saves a quietly heartbreaking bit for the very end. sushi supplies online ukMichelin’s inspectors, who turned Jiro into a culinary powerhouse when they awarded Sukiyabashi Jiro their coveted three-star rating, are said to have attended the restaurant three times. cooking sushi rice youtube

And Yoshikazu was their chef every time. Director/cinematographer David Gelb has made Jiro Dreams of Sushi in a clean, straightforward style that reflects the pared simplicity of Jiro's own methods. The whites are vibrant, the greens lush, and the sushi itself has been shot from a slight low angle to achieve a quality that feels nearly three-dimensional. sushi tei bali phoneThe transfer sports a nearly flawless image that honors Gelb's immersive you-are-there approach. how to buy smoked salmon for sushiThe sound mix is nearly as impressive, particularly in terms of preserving the subtlety of the film's soundtrack, which includes shrewdly chosen pieces by Tchaikovsky and Philip Glass.how to roll sushi fashion sandwiches

On their commentary track, director David Gelb and editor Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer manage to be conversational and personal while still providing an informative look at the process of making the film. (For example, Gelb says that Glass's music was chosen because it often gradually cumulates in effect from a series of repetitions, like the meals Jiro serves.) yo sushi menu yorkThe deleted scenes are actually interesting, almost acting as complementary short films, while "The Masters" vignette, which is essentially more deleted scenes, provides additional context on the various food markets seen in the film. A brief sushi gallery affords one a second glance at Jiro's creations. Jiro Dreams of Sushi, one of the more graceful and poignant films of the year so far, receives an appropriately elegant Blu-ray presentation.BY David Gelb | IN Food Jiro Dreams of Sushi: Preview Master Chef Jiro’s Secrets to Success Chef Jiro on the Challenges of Making Shrimp and Octopus Meet Four California Sushi Masters The Attributes a Sushi Restaurant Needs to be Special About the FilmJiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef.

He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar. MORE For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish, meticulously training his employees, and carefully molding and finessing the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow.The feature film debut of director David Gelb, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a thoughtful and elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection, chronicling Jiro’s life as both an unparalleled success in the culinary world, and a loving yet complicated father. 

The FilmmakerDavid Gelb, Producer/DirectorOriginally from New York City, David Gelb currently works and lives in Los Angeles. After graduating from USC's film production program, David worked on various music videos, short films, and documentaries. Most notably, he directed A Vision of Blindness, an extensive behind the scenes look at Fernando Meirelles’s film Blindness, which enjoyed a run on the Sundance Channel. David has been a sushi aficionado since his childhood. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is his first full-length feature film. LESS Film CreditsExecutive Produced by Matthew Weaver Joey Carey Stefan Nowicki Jeffrey C. NormanExecutive Produced by Chris Kelly Jennifer Carrico Kelly Ed Ojdana Ross M. DinersteinProduced by Kevin Iwashina Tom PellegriniDirected and Produced by David GelbEdited by Brandon Driscoll-LuttringerCinematography by David GelbCo-Executive Producers Jeremy Umland Scott PrisandAssociate Producer Brandon Driscoll-LuttringerProduction Coordinators / Translators Yukako Inoue Shino NakamuraLead Post Translator Hashim Kotaro BharoochaSteadicam Operator Kenichi TaguchiSteadicam Assistant Kouji MizuguchiPost Translators Yuka Shirasuna Yurika Araki DennisVisual Effects by Peter SauvyColor Correction by Brandon

Driscoll-LuttringerTitle Design and Key Art by Chris BerdineMusic Clearances Janet Billig Rich David RichPost Production Supervisor and Production Accountant Gina AmadorProduction Associate Rebecca BreithauptTranscribers Jacob Aronson Elana Summerlin Sarah C. JohnsonDigital Filmout by IO FilmDigital Intermediate Colorist Eliot MilbournDigital Intermediate Conform Artist Brian BeardDigital Intermediate Producer Steve HernandezData Manager Manny MenaScan and Record Operator Ross MiltenbergPost Production Sound Services POP SOUNDRe-Recording Mixer / Dialogue Editor Tim HoogenakkerSupervising Sound Editor Darren "Sunny" WarkentinFoley Mixer Chris JohnstonFoley Artist / Sound Editor Anthony VanchureSound Editor Robert WeissPost Production Sound Coordinators Dawn Redmann Laura HarleyClips and Images Provided by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Michelin Guide Getty Images For Magnolia Pictures Eamonn Bowles Tom Quinn Matt Cowal Dori Begley Chris White Caroline McKenzie Christopher MatsonWorld Sales Fortissimo FilmsMusicConcerto for Violin and Orchestra In D, Opus # 5: I. Allegro Moderato.

Cadenza Performed by Jascha Heifetz, The London Philharmonic and John Barbirolli Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Courtesy of EMI Classics"I’m Going to Go Make a Cake" "Morning Passages" by Philip Glass Used by permission of Sony/ATV Music Publishing & Wonderland Music Publishing Courtesy Orange Mountain Music"Berlin by Overnight" "On the Nature of Daylight" "Infra 5" Written & Performed by Max Richter Used by permission of Embassy Music Corp (BMI) Courtesy of Bankrobber Music"Gertrude Leaves the Summer House" "A Choice" by Philip Glass ©1993 Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. Courtesy Orange Mountain Music"Etude No. 5" "Etude No. 2" by Philip Glass ©1999 Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. Courtesy Orange Mountain Music “Off to Market” Written by Rye Randa (ASCAP) Performed by Rye Randa"African Journey" Performed by Anugama Written by Werner Hagen Used with permission of Isan Publishing (BMI) Courtesy of Open Sky Music LLC String Quartet No. 4 (Buzcak) Performed by the Kronos Quartet ©1989 Dunvagen Music Publishers

, Inc. Courtesy of Nonesuch RecordsPiano Concerto No. 21 - Adante by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Performed by Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Alfred Brendel and Sir Neville Marriner Courtesy of Universal Music"Prelude (Bach remix)" Written by J.S. Bach & Michael Kohlbecker Performed by Fun f D Used by permission of Michael Kohlbecker Courtesy of Michael Kohlbecker"The Hours" by Philip Glass Performed by Lyric Quartet, Michael Riesman & Nick Ingman Used by permission of Sony/ATV Music Publishing & Wonderland Music Publishing Courtesy Paramount Pictures"Invitation” by Philip Glass ©2003 Dunvagen Music Publishers, Inc. Courtesy Orange Mountain MusicSpecial Thanks Jacob Aronson Lon Bender Chris Berdine Bonnie Brae Studio The Staff of Bureau Ginza Evans Buttersworth Naveen Chaubal City National Bank Entertainment Division CSS Studios Christine D'Souza Steven Drypolcher Jeff Eisner Nabil Elderkin The Gelb Family Michal Goldvaser Bob Horowitz Tate Hoxworth Indie Camera Rentals Jessica Kardos Location

Sound Inc. Andrew Nisinson Naomi Oltarsh Raleigh Studios Hollywood Alexander Rodriguez Samy's Camera Rose Schwartz The Staff of Sukiyabashi Jiro The Tsukiji Fish Market Rachael Walkinton Daniel M. Wasser Visceral Pysche Films Joy Yoon Imada YosukeDedicated to the Memories of Kenneth Oltarsh and Laura LuttringerFunding provided by Ozumo EnterprisesJiro Dreams of Sushi is a co-production of City Room Films, Weaver/Pelligrini Productions and Preferred Content, in association with Sundial Pictures.This program was produced by City Room Films which is solely responsible for its content.All Rights Reserved.Sushi Movie, LLC, is the author of this motion picture for the purpose of copyright and other laws. Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other applicable laws of the United States of America and other countries. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition of this motion picture (including soundtrack) is prohibited and could result in criminal prosecution as well as civil liability.