Geekscape Reviews: ‘Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy’

[This review is based on a sample provided by the publisher.]

Viz Media’s Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy is unlike any other title I have seen in their library. Written by Jiro Ono and Yoshikazu Ono, the book can be seen as a survey of the world of sushi as well as view into  Jiro Ono’s Tokyo, Japan-based restaurants, Sukiyabashi Jiro.

The majority of the pages are used for the “Omakase Tasting Menu,” in which each spread of pages is dedicated to a certain sushi. You can see two samples from this chapter below.

I loved the inclusion of the Japanese name for the sushi, both in Romaji and Hiragana. I think it might come in handy for ordering from Japanese menus. Each of the fish descriptions mentions when that particular one is available to order. For example, you will note that the Abalone is only in season from May to September whereas the Golden Cuttlefish is fine all year round.

The sushi descriptions for the sample pages put focus on how the restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, handles each particular type of sushi. And while some entries dedicated more time than others to this topic, it is always mentioned.

Perhaps the biggest draw for Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy isn’t so much the information contained within but the beautiful accompanying images. I was so hungry after reading this book. I have no clue how the photographer did it but they managed to perfectly capture all the alluring aspects of each particular dish.

The section on “How to Eat Sushi” was actually my favorite part. It was amusing to read as well as informative. Some of the descriptions, such as the one shown above (which I was particularly fond of), have a more lengthy description. Others are much more concise, about one short sentence.

The final section “Dining at Sukiyabashi Jiro” is very short, basically giving a rundown of what to expect when visiting their establishments. It was nice addition for people traveling to Japan who might want to eat there after staring at their food for so long. Thankfully, addresses to both locations as well as their business hours are also in this chapter.

Sushi: Jiro Gastronomy earns a tasty 5 out of 5. It isn’t the type of book I would normally read but it was informative, well-written, and dang if those pictures didn’t make me salivate.