Aged sushi: try a unique Japanese delicacy in London
Fresh fish is not necessarily the best, according to a master sushi-maker
Aged sushi may sound like an innovation too far, but British diners will have the opportunity to explore this rediscovered art at a unique event bringing together the masters of three Japanese cuisines.
Kouji Kimura is the man responsible, and for one week only from 29 October he’ll be in residence at Yashin Ocean House in South Kensington. His two Michelin stars may offer some comfort to Londoners sceptical about eating uncooked fish that’s up to 60 days old.
Further reassurance comes from The Wall Street Journal. “Time is a friend to raw fish, giving it a richer texture and flavour,” it advises. “Sushi prepared in this manner is more authentic, and its roots go back hundreds, if not thousands of years.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Kimura’s first experiments in fish-aging were not, however, an unqualified success. “It was delicious,” says the Luxeat food blog, but “it did stink a lot”. Over time, he learnt how to control the moisture levels within the fish “to bring out umami” without the offputting side-effects.
His flying visit to the UK is the result of a collaboration between Luxeat and All Nippon Airways, which is sponsoring the event as past of its “We Are Japan” programme, intended to foster a deeper understanding of the country and its culture.
Kimura will be joined by Kentaro Nakahara, “the chef many credit with cooking some of Tokyo’s very best wagyu”, says Eater.com.
Though less of a leap than decomposing fish, his signature dish is in some ways just as surprising: he takes the ultrahigh-quality beef and sandwiches it between two slices of bread. The resulting “wagyu katsu sando - as it’s called in Japan - has been Instagram bait for at least the last four years”, says the website.
Completing the trio is Shuji Niitome, a master of tempura, whose ten-seat Tokyo restaurant, Niitome, has been named the best in the city. It came out on top of 4,645 rivals on Tabelog, the respected Japanese review website.
Their work will be accompanied by fine wine and sake selected by Raku Oda, Yashin Ocean House’s head sommelier.
ANA and Luxeat’s Culinary Journeys runs from 29 October to 2 November at Yashin Ocean House, London SW7. Tickets are available here for £375
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Holden Frith is The Week’s digital director. He also makes regular appearances on “The Week Unwrapped”, speaking about subjects as diverse as vaccine development and bionic bomb-sniffing locusts. He joined The Week in 2013, spending five years editing the magazine’s website. Before that, he was deputy digital editor at The Sunday Times. He has also been TheTimes.co.uk’s technology editor and the launch editor of Wired magazine’s UK website. Holden has worked in journalism for nearly two decades, having started his professional career while completing an English literature degree at Cambridge University. He followed that with a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. A keen photographer, he also writes travel features whenever he gets the chance.
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Count of Monte Cristo review: 'indecently spectacular' adaptation
The Week Recommends Dumas's classic 19th-century novel is once again given new life in this 'fast-moving' film
By The Week UK Published
-
Death of England: Closing Time review – 'bold, brash reflection on racism'
The Week Recommends The final part of this trilogy deftly explores rising political tensions across the country
By The Week UK Published
-
Sing Sing review: prison drama bursts with 'charm, energy and optimism'
The Week Recommends Colman Domingo plays a real-life prisoner in a performance likely to be an Oscars shoo-in
By The Week UK Published
-
Kaos review: comic retelling of Greek mythology starring Jeff Goldblum
The Week Recommends The new series captures audiences as it 'never takes itself too seriously'
By The Week UK Published
-
Blink Twice review: a 'stylish and savage' black comedy thriller
The Week Recommends Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie stun in this film on the hedonistic rich directed by Zoë Kravitz
By The Week UK Published
-
Shifters review: 'beautiful' new romantic comedy offers 'bittersweet tenderness'
The Week Recommends The 'inventive, emotionally astute writing' leaves audiences gripped throughout
By The Week UK Published
-
How to do F1: British Grand Prix 2025
The Week Recommends One of the biggest events of the motorsports calendar is back and better than ever
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Twisters review: 'warm-blooded' film explores dangerous weather
The Week Recommends The film, focusing on 'tornado wranglers', stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell
By The Week UK Published