My Sushi World

Mukimono Flowers part2

2012-02-17T17:08:00.000-08:00

This mukimono carving is for the celebration
of long-life.

I use the white radish for making a crane.

I put on the bill which I made with a sweet potato.

Also make a turtle with a tail.
This is the draft Sketch for the beginning.

It is not difficult work when you cut it a little by little.

Turtle which has the tail is a long-lived symbol.

Then put all of them together.
It is celebration of the longevity!

Mukimono Flowers

2012-02-14T18:46:00.000-08:00

"Mukimono" is a traditional Japanese style of vegetable carving.
I read that It seems to come up in Japanese oldest novel "The Tale of Genji".
It is told that it is the Edo era it was popular most.

people get very busy and the "Mukimono" makers are decrease recently.
But I think it is handwork that we should keep continue.
Those are the typical type of "mukimono".
Flowers.

I cut radish in this way.

Then I peel by one piece thinly.

Then put together.... Completion of the peony.

let's go on to the next flower.

Cut the carrot this way.

Then peel by one piece thinly and
put the petal to the cucumber.

It is the completion of the camellia.
The next update.....I will put those Flower
to the dish with animals.
See you soon!

Oh Sushi!

2012-02-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

I upload the sushi which we cooked this week:)

Premium nigiri

nigiri for individual

Sushi with Chirashi sushi

Maki(roll) and Inari sushi

This plate is not sushi...Special Sashimi plate of maguro(tuna)
with the veggie carving of a swordfish.

a fish basket

2012-01-30T07:07:00.000-08:00

I made a fish basket by pumpkin.
This basket can use for sashimi in many cases.

I used the basket for sea urchin this time.

The meet of the lobster makes sashimi and
I boil the husk and usually display it.
(This way)boil the husk, the color turn to beautiful red.
(see my previous post)

but I used the lobstar without boiling because
I wanted to emphasize a pumpkin and the color of the sea urchin.

This time I made a seine by white radish.

This is a technic of Japanese "mukimono"
I express a lobster caught in a net with this plate.

I used this net for a carrot spider-man and
Carrot palpatine(force lightning) before.

there is no limit in cooking.
also there is no limit to learn!

Cucumber Art 3

2012-01-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

This article is the 3rd series of cucumber Art.

We usually use these cucumber cup for the wasabi for sashimi plate.

It is easy to make.
Like this photo, cut in four or five places by knife.

when you finish cut in, all you have to do is turn it lightly
because the core of the cucumber is very soft.

If You put your favolite food on them...
It becomes the wonderful finger hors d'oeuvres :)

I made a several kind of cucumber boat.

I sometimes make a very tiny sushi Birthday cake!
It is for surprize present for our customer.

I add a cucumber boat with the plate this time.

of course ! cucumber R2-D2 too.

sashimi plate

2012-01-16T05:33:00.000-08:00

It is important that the sashimi uses the fresh fish.
I try to express "sea itself" on a dish whenever
I cook a sashimi dish.

For example..sea bream.
I left the skin of sea bream partially and
set a fish to a dish.
I usuall try to show the fish fly up over the sea..

I take off the turban shell from a shell and I boil the bowels.
Also I make sashimi with a body of turban shell.

The lobster excludes and slices the body　being raw and　then boils the husk to use a beautiful color.

I do the best for all of ingredientss.

Then put together....
"The sea" is completed on a dish in this way.

Bon appetit!!

Dragon Year

2011-12-31T07:57:00.000-08:00

2012 is the year of the Dragon in Chinese Calendar.
Special thanks to you, Ian!(my friend who　visited my restaurant last year)

To start My blog in 2012..I chose this beggie carving.

Speaking of Chinese Calendar..
A mouse,cow, tiger....the twelve signs of the chinese character are animals each, but only the Dragon is an animal in the imagination.

Although the tough times, we can make full use of imagination then rise like a Dragon!

kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu! ^^

Cucumber Art 2

2011-12-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

Today,I introduce my veggie carving which I made for broadcasted TV program last month.

I made 9 Buddha for the TV program.
but I did not made them from a wood.. from a cucumber.. for sure!
The TV crew added splendid work to my sculpture.

Buddhist saint...

His name is called "asura"
I made every one of them from 1 cucumber except him.
I put arms with bamboo stick for this asura.

The Buddha....They are the helo from long time ago..

The TV crew used the dry-Ice.
They got the inspirarion from my picture of the
Darth vader which I made before.

They did great work on it..
looks so beautiful arn't they?

Which one is your favorite? :)

They introduced our course menu too!

This is also my favorite carving.
white(Japanese White raddish) and red(carrot) pair swan.
I've been making the pair swan from long time ago because
A swan is a blissful animal.
also Red and the white combination are good for a celebration!

At last, I made a japanese comedian "masa" with sweet potato.
In TV,He called it as "me"!

by the way...Please allow for me to put subtitles on a
pictures recently.
I do not want anyone to do business with my pictures.
I just make them for people's ｆun!
Hope you enjoy the vegetables!

Season's greetings

2011-12-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

Let's celebrate Christmas with sushi!

We Produce various type of sushi cakes.
I call this cake "Millefeuille type".

As for the This sushi cake... a take-out is available:)

In this season,I present Santa Claus that made it with a carrot now!

Here is veggie Christmas decoration.
It is slightly early for greetings but May Christmas bring you joy and Happiness!

my knife

2011-12-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

Today,I introduce my knife.

As I mentioned before, I used to work as a french chef
before I became sushi chef.
Therefore I have two type of knives.

It is a knife for Western food in a upper of photo , and the bottom is a knife of the Japanese food.

Those are 3 kind of whetstones.
rough sharpeners,standard and finish use.

looks like bussiness case but
Here is a "mukimono(veggie carving) tool"

This is inside.
There are many tools for making a vegetable carving.
Actually, you can buy High specification
Note PC for money to buy this tool.
Those are very useful for making Specific sculpture but
nomaly, I don't use.

I use those two. keen knife and knife of triangle.
Those are very useful!
you can try veggie carving if you have a keen knife like this.
Please try if you like:)

Gift from the sea

2011-11-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

I treated various foods last week.

Crabs

filefish

kochi...flathead

Red grouper

I thank the nature and live day by day.

Kamen Rider

2011-11-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Kamen Rider...
Some of you may know There is a Kamen Rider from
USA called "KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT".
He is very cool!!

but this Rider looks charming lol

I put on a food color of green :)

Character's chirashi sushi

2011-10-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

I got a request of Delivery from the customer...
that is why I made the "Chirashi sushi" of the character.

I used the technic of character bento which is very popular in Japanese housewives.

I hope customers were enjoyed the dinner:)

Cucumber Art

2011-10-19T08:08:00.000-07:00

A good point of the vegetables sculpture is...
You can express anything what you want to express with familiar food.

Chef of Japanese use cucumber "mukimono" for a osashimi
like below.

Koma（a top）for wasabi

folding fan

Bamboo

bucket

from here, not for sashimi.....
Those are , let's say...Cucumber Art:)

Turtle

the kappa (water imp)

the Buddha

different type of a statue of Buddha

I made a 9 Buddha for TV program which will broadcast in November.

Thank you

2011-10-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

A Day of Last week, I bought this book.

I only read a half of this.....

I used to watch his presentation in Podcast(Keynote).
We were attracted by his speech.

This book's subtitle said.."What would Jobs do?"
I think Everybody can use this word ..in this way.
"What would you do to this situation if you are Jobs?"

Thank you Steve.
Thank you for all of your great words.
Please take a rest and..watch the people from Heaven.

Canadian food's and Wine Seminar

2011-10-05T07:24:00.000-07:00

I went for a Canadian food's and Wine Seminar.

The chef who came from Vancouver showed cooking,
and we ate his dish and also taste wine from Canada.

The Chef's dishes was very beautiful and tasty.
He pleased us by smooth technique and nice talking.

Canada Wine were also very nice.
Usually I don't drink but drank the wine because of
delicious dish today.

Thanks chef!

By the way,
I took the picture with my iphone3G this time...
I wish I could change it to iphone5!!
but iphone4S seems still nice to me :)

Sushi with Maple Leaf

2011-10-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Osaka became cold from last week.
It is autumn now!
I made an Autumn leaf with a carrot today.

At first I cut a carrot in a rectangle and write a line like below.

and then, dig it out Along a line.

I finish each leaf after slicing it.

I put it in sushi of the delivery to customer.

Please have a wonderful autumn, everyone!

Busy weekend!

2011-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

This friday-Sunday was very busy for us!

Here were some dish from sushi course(3000yen)

Appetizer

Tenpura

Today's fish plate(codfish)

Also including sushi,chawanmushi, Dessert.

Vegetable Monster Rex

2011-09-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

a long time ago, in the forest far , far away....

It was the very peaceful day.
Until that ferocious monster appears ・・

The beautiful Butterfly were playing..

A rabbit and the butterfly play hide-and-seek at a flower bed..
It was the quiet autumn afternoon.

Here is another rabbit also playing with butterfly..

Suddenly, That Dangerous monster appeared !
but the rabbit didn't recognize that ferocious one..

The rabbit finally noticed a monster,but was already too late...!
it's so big!!

The rabbit seems to be eaten by a terrible monster!　
oh Noooo!

but....don't worry.....

because.......

Actually, They are very close friends ♪

An animal and the monster of the forest are lived peacefully...forever.

Fin
--------------------------------------------------

How was the world's first fairy tale with the vegetables carving? lol

This monster called "Tiga Rex（ティガレックス）".
It is a monster coming up to very popular game in Japan
"monster hunter 3 （モンスター・ハンター３）".

I made this work by the request of my friend.
It was the first time for me to make the video game character.

Here is how to make :)

I used 4-5 carrot this time.

I made the Face first..all the time.

After having made each part,then put them together.

I made an effort to carve a fearful monster.
However, I see it cutely also.... lol

Thank you for reading , everyone:)

The National Geographic Kids magazine

2011-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

There are few topics today :)

My sculpture of the Star Wars will be printed in
The National Geographic Kids magazine UK.
(October issue, on sale 21 September)

Here are the links of information of
The National Geographic Kids magazine UK.

The magazine's website
Facebook Page

If you are living in UK....Please check the book :)

Also, Today is the day that you can buy the Star Wars Blu-ray!!
I receive it today. Can't wait to watch!

one more thing...
I'm working on the new carving.
This is the first time for me to make the
some kind of "Game character".

I'll update when it is ready :)

Vegetable Motorcycle

2011-09-14T19:33:00.000-07:00

I like riding a motorcycle.
My moto is an American motorcycle of 400cc called "Honda Steed".

Actually ,It is my father's memory.

I don't have much time to go for long ride recently
but I like touring still :)

Anyway,
Today I would like to show you my collection of motorcycle!!

Well....Of course It made with vegetables..lol

Racer Type

American type
It was the birthday Present for our Customer.

pocket bike
My customer's bike.

MotoCross type

After having displayed it, this motorcycle became the French fries:)
yammy!...but be careful for the toothpick :)

American Type (Very detailed version)
I made this for the TV show for Kansai TV..

I made the number plate too.

Motor scooter type

There is one more point that I would like to insist...
The wheel of all motorcycles turns around!! :)

A Character from Dragon ball

2011-09-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Dragon Ball is Japanese Anime.
This character called "Piccoro" Daimaou.

I don't know how do you call in English but
Daimaou(大魔王：だいまおう) means..King of the Devil.

This is made by Sweet Potato with green food color.
I settled it for the birthday present of the son of the customer.

Hope you enjoy:)

Sushi lunch

2011-09-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

We Provide the Lunch menu to you everyday.
including...
Appetizer, 8 kind of sushi,miso-soup, pickles,dessert

for 850yen.
if you live in Osaka, please visit our restaurant :)

Saiku sushi

2011-09-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

I made a sushi of fish.

Some of you will think in this way.
"are you saying...........fish and sushi?"

no, I mean..
It is a meaning of the fish-shaped sushi.lol

At first, form the rice as a shape of fish.

put the Yellow(egg), Red(powder of shrimp) and Nori.

slice the an amberjack very thin.

And I cover up a rice with a slice of an amberjack.
You can also use the Squid or flat fish, sea bream..

completed!! The sushi of the carp.

This kind of sushi called "saiku sushi　細工寿司"
It is the technic of making sushi into various form.

Saiku sushi is pleased with celebration day or
special day.
We don't do this so often.

Sushi is ...healthful,delicious,beautiful..
There are Many reason to have!

Japan's New Prime Minister

2011-09-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Meet our new Prime Minister
"Yoshihiko Noda".
He is the 95th Prime Minister of Japan.

Actually He is already the sixth prime minister in recent five years.
besides, He is the person whom the name is least known to so far....
But that doesn't matter for us.

His catchphrase(Theme) is どじょう(loach).
He said,
"I crawl like a loach and do good work patiently"

He said that top priority problem is the revival
from East Japan earthquake disaster and
the convergence of the Fukushima nuclear plant accident.

Also, in a typhoon of the day before yesterday
much damage gave to the Kansai area.

The ruling party, the opposition party... does not matter.
We know they have a lot of reason to against each other but
It is time all people cooperate,
and to do the best with every effort now.

Go for it!!

The Carrot Darth Vader Strikes Back

2011-09-02T06:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I found the Video that I thought deleted it
by mistake...

Yes...! It's a Video of the carrot vader!

Please watch my video if you cannot wait for Blu-ray of SW:)
It will on sale in September 16...
Do not forget to make a reservation:)

During the film...the BGM played by naopi0418.
You can watch many wonderful Electone performances of naopi0418
in youtube =from here.

Now..Feel the power of vegetable :)!

I wish you enjoy the video:)

Fire engine

2011-09-01T05:36:00.000-07:00

in Japan, today is the "Disaster Prevention Day".

Those are Carrot Fire engine
from my archive :)

To come up with the Idea to make a fire engine
with a carrot....was not difficult.
because they are almost same color :)

Carrot Doraemon

2011-08-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure that "Doraemonドラえもん" is
familiar in your country but..

Here is a Carrot Doraemon.
I put the Japanese white radish for his pocket.

Actually, September 3rd is his birthday.
He is(was?) born in 2112 though...
I was also born in a same day and month.
but different year of course:)
then I will became 40..

Time flies like a shooting star... lol !
I wish I could study and improve more.
Each day provides its own gifts.

A Sea food roll

2011-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is how to make roll type of sushi.

First of all, We spread a sheet of laver.

I put the rice like this.
The red one is a roe of flying fish.

This is my costumer's favorite roll.
He likes yellowtail,tuna,Sea bream,
Shrimp,salmon roe,sea urchin, cucumber etc..

I roll it with a bamboo mat.

Complete!

In this way, you can eat the present of the sea and
present of the land together :)
That's the true charm of Sushi!

After having cut it to the size that is easy to have,
We wrap it carefully.

Hope you can try it someday :)

A holiday in Japan

2011-08-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

I went to "Lake Biwa" with a family in last holiday."Lake Biwa" is the Japan's largest lake.
From Osaka where I live in, We can go there approximately one hour by car.

The view from the room of hotel is very beautiful....

I think there are a lot of places that you can visit in Japan!

There is the pleasure boat in the lake.

Japan is the place where the sightseeing is also very fun.
Therefore please come to Japan for a trip!! :)

Vegetable Tank.

2011-08-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Those pictures also from my archive :)
I made another mobile suit it is called "GunTank".
Half of Tank, Half of mobile suit.

I like this model because looks very strong!

shot from Front.

From the back.

I put the color before I serve.
Those cannons are curved because it absorbed a water...
It is the difficulty of the vegetables sculpture, but is the
attraction only by the veggie carving !

mmm...there is one point that I still not sure....

I should put color on or not !?
this looks real but looks similar to plastic model ..
not vegetable..... lol

This carving took for a long time to completion.
but it was fun anyway :)

Star Wars dish for the Party! !

2011-08-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you are going to have a party at home,and If your son, daughter, husband and
friends loves Star Wars.....please read this :)

Have you ever heard the Man's name of
"Paul Bocuse"?
He is the one of most famous French Chef in the world.

One of his representative dishes is "Loup en croûte feuilletée"
Which is Pie of Sea bass.
He is a great chef and respect by a chef of all over the world.
I can not prepare the delicious thing as same as him. However, as for the dish of the pie...
it can change into the most suitable dish of the party depending on your idea.

Yes...! This is the article about Star Wars pie!

The "Millennium Falcon " Pie

"Naboo Royal Starship　" Pie
The below is just before cooking.
You can try with a frozen pie sheet by yourself.

The "Y-wing" pie

Star destroyer Pie

Here is the Pie of Deat Star 2 with veggie Ewok santa.

you can put any seafood and vegetable inside. such as
Sea Bass, Sea Bream, Salmon,spinach and mushroom so on..

Please try at your home party.
oh.... there is no try. do it! (by yoda) :D

How to carve the Creature of Star Wars

2011-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

Today, I'ld like to invite you to my kitchen again..

This is about How to carve the Sweet Potato Opee Sea Killer.
Opee is the ferocious creature which lives in the depth of the sea of naboo.

Following my article of carrot Darth Vader,
This article is How to carve series Part 2!!

Well, Maybe I should write it as "how to raise the opee".

First of all.....I could say, this is a young fish :)
In fact, When I found this sweet potato at store,
suddenly I made up my mind ...
"I would make opee with this! "
Because the shape seems very similar to me...(may be it was a force)

At first, I peeled skin carefully.

I carve the faces slowly. Mouth and eyes.....

If a position is completely decided,
I carve it more deeply.

I connect two hands and six feet to a body
with the toothpick which sharpened a point.
And then, carve a tooth!

and I carve a scale.

When I put on a color, I soak vegetables sculpture in the water
which I put food color in.
If I remember correctly, I put it 2days at this time.
I wanted to put color deeply.

but at that time,　
I wanted to keep only the tooth a white color without coloring it.

Therefore, I decided to color it that let a fish stand
to protect the tooth from water.
like an illust below....
and, fortunately......succeeded!!

I also made a "bongo" with a Japanese white radish.

The mission has done! This is a Sweet potato Opee sea killer.

In this way, you can reproduce the scene of the movie　:)

I served the Opee with Sashimi of　bonito at that day.
This is kind of rare character of Star Wars therefore
I thought maybe my friends does not know his name....

but When I bring it to them and They said
"WOW!! It is Opee Sea Killer!!"
There's always a bigger fish!
I really love this moment.... to share the enjoyable
moment of star wars.
What a wonderful friends We have! ^^

one more thing......If you take a look closer...
You can see that the tooth stand in two lines! :)

Acrually I made this Potato Opee in 2 year's ago ....
but it maybe still My best 5 of the sculpture
which I was able to make well..

Thank you for reading everyone.!

Dessert

2011-08-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

I make a Dessert everyday.
It is only one kind of each day and
It is not taste and not looks like the one that pâtissier make...
but I make them because I want customer can enjoy the hole meal!

Pudding

Coffee pudding

Pannacotta with fruits

Ice cream

Chocolate mousse

Bon Appetit :)

Japanese King of Rock

2011-08-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Who is your favorite singer?
For me, I like Billy Joel,Elton John,Chicago,
Bon Jovi, Gloria Estefan.... and
Recently I listen the Celtic Woman.

If you ask me about Japanese singer,
Mai Kuraki and...... Eikichi Yazawa.

E.Yazawa is 61 years old Japanese Rock singer.
He has very powerful voice and very energetic!

He has a very good friend ship with the American Rock group of
The Doobie Brothers.
They held The concert together many times in Japan.

The below is the live film in several yeas ago when he
played with Doobies(John McFee & Keith Knudsen).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7bOXZq92NI&feature=related

We call him "Ei-cyan(永ちゃん)" for short.

I made him with Carrot and Japanese White radish and
sometimes I use sweet potato too.
I've made a few pattern of his Sculpture for the Fan.
I'm also his fan and I went to his concert many times.

mike code is pasta^^

He is a great singer!

I wish I could carve Michael Jackson someday... :)

Obon

2011-08-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Title...O_bon is Japan's traditional event.
From the 13th to 15th of August to hold a memorial service
to the spirits of every house's ancestors.

In those days, many people return their home,
and the people travel to meet a family.
A Highway and the Shinkansen are very crowded

People tired from a long journey.
therefore many people prefer to order of a dish of the delivery to home.

That is why we sushi restaurant becomes very busy.

Those are the dishes for delivery.

Here is "Makunouch Bento" .
Vegetables, osashimi,　Deep-fried food, rice and sushi etc..
every kind of Japanese food inside.

We put the lid of a box and deliver them carefully.

Star wars carpaccio !

2011-08-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Star wars Carving can decorate in many case of food.
in this time...Carpaccio(Fresh slice of fish)

"Star wars Carpaccio"
R2-D2 is made by sweet potato.
The fish are salmon,flatfish,and tuna so on.
I put the dressing for this plate just before I serve.

"Carpaccio of Battle of hoth "
You can see the AT-AT at first...
Actually, The whole this plate is the scene of the movie!

Snowspeeder with wire (sweet potato)
Enargy Base(Ark shell)
The DF.9(carrot and Sweet potato)
Snow ground (sliced fish(only a white filet))
Ion canon (hamo)

"Battle of Death Star trench"
The Dog fight of Carrot X-wing and Tie Fighter.

"Carpaccio of death star 2"
The fish are sea bream & flat fish.
The two carving shows EP6 of dog fight.

Actually I wrote it as carpaccio, but the dish changes
depending on how to choose source.

carpaccio
=use dressing(I make with grapeseed oil,wine vineger)
salt, pepper.

Otukuri(sashimi)
= soy sauce , wasabi

Fish and vegetable are Fresh...Thanks for the nature..always.
The saga continue....

Thank you so much for all of you to enjoy my carving!
Please drop by sometimes :)

Mini Chirashi Sushi

2011-08-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

[ちらし,Chirashi] means scatter.
so , Chirashi sushi is the sushi which
we put the slice of the fish on a vinegared rice.

I also make very small "chirashi sushi"sometimes
for the course menu.
I admit this sushi is too small but it is cute..I think.
therefore good at first sight and then enjoy the taste!

I settle the mini-chirashi with other
nigiri sushi like below.

sushi are..ell,tuna(soak in to soy-sauce it called "zuke"), Flatfish with white radish
and salad roll.

this plate will come with other food.
just like this.

it is 3000Yen. it means $39.23 US right now.
wow...Though it was 30$ until just before.lol

If you have a chance to visit Osaka, please drop by:D

The man of the Death Star

2011-08-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

He is a cold-hearted man.

but...

He is a Man of dignity.

Many people were afraid of him.

but...

He is a charisma leader.

He does not hear the opinion of other people.

but....

He had loyalty to the empire.

He cause many people pain.

but....

He is a legendary top Commander.

He may be a bad person.

but...

We thank for his existence.We love him.

He never shows his smile.

but....

He had presence...and very brave.

yes....
He is the Man of The Death Star.

Can't wait to watch the Blu-ray version:)

Sushi cake!

2011-08-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, We produce a "sushi cake".
Sushi with cake= happiness x2 !

Here is the sushi cake for take out.
Celebrate edition :D

This is a double-sushi cake!
This is for 7-8person.

How about Star Wars sushi cake!
"The Darth Maul sushi cake"
(I used the seat which was in "Star wars cook book")

Inside is like this....Millefeuille Style
(Picture from normal sushi cake but inside the same)

I put avocado in it. it is very good combination with
sushi cake.

something fish going on here? :)

2011-08-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks for reading everyone...and
Please excuse me for my broken English　(^^;)

Well, I'm a sushi cook so I meet fish everyday.
Sometimes, I "make" a fish too.
I make those fish and put for decoration of "osashimi".

Sea bream (carrot)

fish with seaweed (carrot & sweet potato)

Salmon with Wave of the river

Fish candle 1 (before I set fire to a candle)

Fish candle 2 (after I set fire)
Can you see the difference?

Crabs　

Goldfish (carrot and white radish)

Fish,Animals,vegetables,humans..We all living at same place.
We are connected.

vegetable carving of Mobile Suit Gundam

2011-08-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

In Japan, the most famous SF animation is "Mobile suit GUNDAM".
From 1979 to now, There are many of each generation series has been broadcasting.

I made a several carving of this Animation.

Mobile suit GUNDAM (just a face)

Char ZAKU

This carving needed a lot of parts just like Plastic model.
I connect all parts with a bamboo skewer or a toothpick.

Char GELGOOG with Double blade
The blade and shield(back) made by white radish.

Someone's flash of a camera is look like the light of the star....
I like this photo :)

All of them are made by carrot.

nigiri for 1 person

2011-07-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

yesterday,there was a tweet from @Starwars..
I think that is why there are more than 2000viewers
visited my site yesterday.
I am very honored!
I　would like to thank everyone for visiting my blog.

Well, Speaking about sushi.
We deliver the sushi to customer's home.
Here is "nigiri" for one person.
I think this is typical Japanese sushi.

Tuna,squid,salmon,yellowtail,shrimp,geso(legs of squid)
or Octopus,Egg,eel, and tekka roll.

Sushi of Star wars

2011-07-27T08:50:00.000-07:00

Star wars x Sushi = very delicious!

I like carving of SW but
I have made several SW sushi before.
Because I am sushi chef:)
I hope you enjoy them and..
someday please tast them!

"Star wars Sushi"
My friend Mike, use this picture as a banner of the
"yammy star wars" corner of TheForce.Net
I am very honored! Thank you Mike..always!!

"The Darth vader roll"
This is kind of big size of roll sushi.
I use an egg and ell for it. also
for rice to color, sweet sauce for eel is used.(taste like teriyaki)

"The tuna(maguro) roll of Emblem of rebel alliance"
(with the Vegetable carving of Jabba and Salacious Crumb)
we call as "tekka roll" , which The sushi roll with raw tuna.
Do you call it same way? or has a different name, or just call as tuna roll?

I sometime put the light side and Dark side in one plate together.
Well.. because ..Star wars is one Univers! :)

Thank you Lamar, always!

vegetable carving "Zoo"

2011-07-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

Vegetable can become an animal.
I made a Zoo with vegetable carving.

Squirrel(carrot)

Eagle(Kyo-potato)

elephant(sweet potato)
I use one sweet potato entirely,and
placed a tusk later.

turtle (cucumber)

Crocodile(Kyo-potato with food color)

Then I placed all together :D

The Zoo

I made this carving for a TV program called "JANIBEN"
For coverage, two people of Japanese idol
"Johnny's Jr" came to my Restaurant in march 2011.
it was a great experience.

Carrot Spider-man

2011-07-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

The vegetable carving is called "Mukimono" in Japanese.

I sometime use the very Japanese Technique　"amidaikon(net-white radish"in english)
This is a technique peeling a Japanese radish thinly
while moving kitchen knives little by little.
This Amidaikon is usually use for decoration of "Osashimi".

But I use it for my Star wars Carving.
For instance..Darth Sidious.

Then I put the amidaikon...then he has unlimited power!

In the case I use it for Droideka..

It became the shield :)

Spider-man is also a very nice movie.
The red color of the carrot brings on a good atmosphere.

And If I use the spider-man with this...
I think you know what will it be!

I think cooking and vegetables carving are very nice relationship :)

By the way, I made a Facebook page.
If you have a Facebook account, please join me.

Flying fish

2011-07-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Japan has the four seasons.
That is why I choose the seasonal fish for cooking.

Have you had Sashimi of Flying fish before?
This fish reminds me of the summer blue sea.

Therefore Everytime I make a sashimi of a flying fish,
I make a dish just like they jump up and down on the sea.

I thank for a all of life which always appear before me.

Jumbo radish festa (part2)

2011-07-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

I wrote the blog about Jumbo white radish festival
in last year.
The article is here. Jumbo radish

It became very late but This is the report.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Welcome Phoenix
I used the leafs as a Feather of phoenix.

Samurai
The body was made by big white radish.
face=sweet potato
Helmet= 2 kind of pumpkin

The Tower
This was 70-80cm tall tower.
People doesn't recognize this was a white radish.
I think this is nice for your wedding..isn't it?

R2-D2
Off course!

Vegetable Motorcycle

2011-07-22T08:19:00.000-07:00

Those carvings were
broadcasted on TV in march.(in Japan)

Veggie Motorcycle
(2 kind of Carrot,Kyo-potato,Arctium lappa L.)

Well,
A car and the motorcycle run on gasoline.
what was the gasoline made by?
The answer is oil....

What was the oil made by?
The answer is.... ancient plants(also animal)....

Therefore It is not mysterious even if a motorcycle,
car and a spaceship are made from vegetables :)
It is very natural art.

The future star in Broadway
(pumpkin,carrot,turnip,Kyo-potato)

Enjoy your vegetable!

Sushi course

2011-07-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

I am sushi chef so I must update sushi!
Let me introduce one of our course menu today.

Sushi course (3000yen =about 30$)
8 kind of different dishes such as
Appetizer, Nigiri,valiety of fry, osashimi, main dish, dessert, so on.

appetizer of the cource menu.

Sushi for party

If you live in osaka or if you are going to visit
Osaka....Please visit my Sushi Restaurant!

vegetable pokemon carving

2011-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Today's theme is "pocket monster(Pokemon)"
I am living in Japan, so
I'm no sure how popular pokemon is.. in overseas.

I put every pokemon's name in Japanese way.
Maybe it is different in other countrys.
Which Pokemon do you like?
Hope you enjoy it!

Pikacyu(sweet potato and carrot)

Marumain(Sweet potato and carrot half & half)

Sounanse(white raddish with blue food coller)
he is my favorite.

Manmou(sweet potato & white raddish)

Koiking (carrot & sweet potato)

Rulili (sweet potato with food coller)

All together! :)

I brought these to the kindergarten where a daughter went to.
Children were delight.

one more..
other style of Pikacyu (this is double size of the other one)

More Star wars Carving..

2011-07-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you for reading my blog again.

Please let me update more veggie Carvings
which I made from 2010-2011.
(latest one is Darth Vader)

Anakin's pod racer with Flag(Sweet potato, Carrot and Japanese white radish)

from the back

Radon-Ulzer engines

My friend Cubist made this Flag..
It is printed as "May the force with Japan".
(as you can see, there is A crest of Jedi put on a flag)
We thank for the support of all of you from all over the world for this earthquake.

Anakin never gave up on his pod race..so do we!

Luke and Wampa(Sweet potato, carrot and Japanese white raddish)

Quinlan Vos (Sweet potato)

Sandtrooper with dewback(Sweet potato and pumpkin)

Scout trooper with endor salad(Sweet potato and carrot)

Death star Pie and ewok santa.
I made those at Christmas party.

Speaking about star wars,
I am a member of Japanese star wars Fan group
called "Jedi order"(I'm CO this term)

I continued making a SW carving and
so far, more than 40 characters I made.
It is because wanting to see the smile of
my friends and I love SW myself!
Now.. I have many precious friend in overseas too.
I wish I could meet with them at C6.

If I was not a SW fan..
I never had a chance to know with friends...
I really thank for SW!

Thank you for reading. have a great day:)

How to make a Carrot Darth vader

2011-06-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

updated!
9.3.2011 The Carrot Vader Strikes Back!
The Video of Carrot Darth Vader... have fun!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I'ld like to invite you to
my kitchen today.
Today's carving theme is the most famous movie character
"Darth Vader".
I hope you enjoy it:)

I used 3 of those bigger carrot This time.

Half of the face is completed.

The face almost completed.

This was the moment that making a body..
When I connect a work, I use a bamboo skewer or a toothpick.
Glue is never used. Because these are a vegetables!

making an arm..
I cut a carrot to approximate size.

And the shape will be made.

making a hand.
sometimes, I make it referring to my hand.

After the temporary set.

A small parts such as the pattern of the clothes and wrinkles will be carved from here. This is what a fun begin.

Here is ...making a systems status belt.

I cut each vegetables into the size of almost
1mm and put it in to raddish like this.

Completion of the vegetables Vader.

One more pictures..
In the movie, the Darth vader shows up
with the fog very often.
I use the Dry ice this time.
I learned this idea from my best friend Mike who is the
writter of TheForce.Net.
Thank you Mike, always!

Thank you for reading everyone.

potato Galatica?!

2011-01-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

A happy new year..everyone!!
Hope everybody had a nice holidays.
I wish the world peace this year　too!
Also,I will do my best for making a delicious dish
and Create a happy moment for my customer.

Here is the new vegetable carving which I made last year.
My friends likes this TV drama, and me to.
that why I made them.

This time I took a video, so I put on the youtube.
hope everyone enjoy it...!

Osashimi

2010-07-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

We have a osashimi . Osashimi is a dish of fresh slices of raw fish.
"The various kinds of Osashimi " is different in content by the everyday stocking.

here are a day of the Osashimi plate for 3 people.
Aji(mackerel),shrimp, tuna, amberjack, scallop
and Sea urchin.

My policy is....not to use the fish and ingredients, but to devote myself(do my best) to the fish and ingredients!

summer in japan

2010-06-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

In Japan, there are many fish in season in summer.

kensaki ika (squid)

"hamo"
"KISU" (sillago japonica)

Those fish are good for sushi too! please taste those wonderful gift from nature at your near sushi restaurant!

Star wars in Kobe

2010-05-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Kobe festival parade was performed
grandly on May 16.
I participated in a parade as a member of Japanese
SW fan group "Jedi order".

Here is the link of the movie of youtube an audience took.
Kobe Parade2010 jedi order

Also here are my new star wars vegetable carvings.

tauntaun with Han solo (sweet potato and carrot)

Ahsoka-tano (sweet potato)

Special thanks to Jedi order, and Robert!

twitter

2010-03-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

I started twitter recently.my page is
here Twitter minayoshi
So far I tweet only japanese but if There are follower,
I may tweet in english. feel free to follow me!

Jumbo radish

2010-03-10T05:40:00.001-08:00

It is very big! isn't it?

This japanese white radish called "Jumbo Daikon(white radish)".
It is brought up with a special enzyme for plants of Manda Co., Ltd.
On coming Sunday, "Jumbo Daikon(white radish)festival "is performed
in Inno-shima of Hiroshima.
In the festival, a contest to select the weight champion of the radish,
and a tasteing of the Japanese radish soup, bingo game will be held.
at this time,I will do a demonstration of the vegetable carving of it.

I do my best so that a visitor can enjoy it!

makunouchi

2010-03-07T03:32:00.000-08:00

today we made makunouchi.
"makunouchi"is kind of traditional japanese bento.
There are .. tenpura, nimono(kind of various steamed vegetable)
sushi,grilled scallop,beans, sashimi so on...
every food in one box.
I think This is good way to taste japanese food!!

2010-01-17T04:58:00.000-08:00

I go to fish market every morning.
The picture below is today's fish.
Do you know what kind of fish in the middle of picture?
it is called Kawahagi. I don't know how to say in english...but
this is very delicious fish in winter.

Star wars Celebration5 announced!

2010-01-05T02:10:00.000-08:00

some times I write about star wars in my blog
because I am a star wars Fan.

The summer of 2008, I went to
SW Celebration Japan with my friends
and we had wonderful time.

now, summer of this year,the Celebration 5 announced!

to Celebrate for SW Celebration 5,
I would like to dedicate my vegetable carving
Which I made recentry(a year or 2).
I'ld like to thank to everyone who brought
such a great movie for us.
also thnaks to my precious friends...!

Those are not for sell of cource....just have fun!
I hope you enjoy them!

All these carvings are made by carrots,
Japanese radish and a sweet potato, so on.
to make green colors for potato,I use food red with water.

I really wish I could go to Celebration 5.....
but it is very far away and Oct 12-15 are tough time to
take holiday for my restaurant....Nooooo!

sushi with gratin

2009-10-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Some times, I try to make a new dishes.
My latest favolite food is "sushi gratin "

sushi rice,cheese,fishes, white sause...
I think those ingredients are good combination.

nigiri of hamo

2009-06-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sushi of Avocado

2009-05-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

Avocado is good for your health!
"California roll" is famous, and it is in a menu also at our shop.

Please say if you like avocado...It isn't put on the menu,
but I'll provide it for a nigiri sushi!

sushi course

2009-05-30T00:44:00.000-07:00

The revolving sushi bar is fun,and reasonable..
but If you'd like to have a fun meal with your
friends or Family, or have party for the memorial day...
My restaurant is one in the best choice!!
Because..It's real sushi.

The sushi course is also recommended!
amuse,tukuri,tenpura,sushi, today's French dish,
pickles,cyawanmushi,dessert.

lunch&dinner time....3000yen

various vegetable carving

2009-05-26T01:08:00.000-07:00

I have sometimes make vegetable carving to the dish of the party(banquet).
It may make from a request, or sometimes I make it for a surprise.

This time, I upload the video of my vegetables carving.

1st The flower which was made with radish
2 The flower made from the carrot
3 The rabbit made from the Japanese radish
4 The swan of a pair

and 5 It made with the sweet potato, the character of a
very Popular animation.....
Please enjoy!

Sushi set

2009-04-06T06:27:00.000-07:00

A sushi set...nigiri 8kan, akamiso-soup,small amuse
otukemono(japanese pickles) and dessert

lunch time 850yen
Dinner time 1100yen

I recommand this set, and if still hungly...ask me more!

Canada days...

2008-11-02T04:20:00.000-08:00

Before I became Sushi chef, I worked as French cook for 8yeas.During that time,
I've lived in canada(toront) for a year and I worked for a French
restaurant.

The restaurants name are Marcel's Bistro and Le saint ropes.
I worked for a hotel of Markham Embassy suite too.

Living in canada was a great experience for my cooking also my Life.
That's way I make a French dishes(kind of lol) too still!

Today's sushi

2008-11-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

Oh my god! I haven't write my english blog over a year...
But Now I am back!
Nice to meet you again and Please come back and see my blog sometimes.

I have made some sushi for delively today just like below.

Maguro,salmon,kanpachi,squid, katuo,shrimp,scallop
tamago(eggs),crabs,natto roll, unagi...so on.

delivery

2007-08-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

This plate for delivery service.

I made first one(shrimp) slowly.
our egg sushi is big size, so I make nigiri different way.
I hope you enjoy my second video for youtube.
I hope you enjoy it!

why is it?

2007-06-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

When we mix vinegar with rice for sushi, we use a wooden pail and rice scoop.

Why must it be a wooden pile!?

because wooden pail absorbs extra liquid flowing from rice,

finished in the "syari(sushi rice)" that is in a good conditions.

one more word today. speaking about "Gari".

Ginger of the slice which soaked in sweetened vinegar,it is called
"GARI".

It is called GARI Because when you eat, it make a sound "gari""gari."

or when you slice ginger, it make a sound.

30th anniversary of starwars!!

2007-05-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

Speaking of movies.......
What is the movie which you like best?

My most favorite movie is the star wars
to become the 30th anniversary in May of this year.

UPDATED June 29th.

those are not for sale.just for having fun!!

for STARWARS　30ｔｈ　anniversary with my frends!
cut a bamboo leaf in form of "starwars". and put it on a slice of japanese radish
and shellfish.

R2-D2 (carrot)

Gunsip(sweet potato)

AT-ST(sweet potato)

palpatine(carrot & sweetpotato)

master yoda(japanese raddish with color)

Obiwan-Kenobi (carrot & bamboo skewer)

Battle of Yavin (carrot)

General Grievous (sweet potato )

ARC170 starfighter (carrot)

Kit Fisto(japanese white radish with green color)

Boba Fett　(sweet potato)

Stormtrooper(carrot, japanese white radish)

X-34 landspeeder (japanese white radish & carrot)

Darth Maul with sushi (carrot , sweet potato)

everytime my friend came, these produced it, but I gather for a
celebration feeling this time.

UPDATED: June 29th

darth vader (carrot , sweet potato)

R2-D2 candle version (japanese white radish)

Battle of hoth (japanese white radish ,carrot)

the saga continues........

Matsumae sushi

2007-02-24T05:25:00.000-08:00

This is the japanese traditional sushi called "MATSUMAE".

the fish is Mackerel.

put the fillet of mackerel in to salt for 3hours,after that wash it.
and then soak into the vinegar for three to four hours.

I pull a skin and cut body of mackerel to open.

then I put rice and roll it up.

after that put "konbu" on top then finish.

you can eat deliciously for around 3 days.

Fresh Nigiri sushi is a representative of sushi recently

but before, sushi was save food in old days.

this sushi was created in the middle of

a process of evolution.

and taste good!

about my carving

2007-01-16T09:11:00.000-08:00

In the case of a party and a banquet, I make

vegetable carving.

Swan

ingredients------carrot, Japanese radish

It is the couple swan which it will make in many cases.

I will display it in a moment of marriage memory and party so on.

The picture is a Japanese-style version. I made some other style
such as western style.

motor cycle

ingredients------carrot

A sculpture of the motorcycle.I made this when my

motorcycle friend came to the store.
A tire turns around properly, too!!

Eikichi.YAZAWA

ingredients-------carrot, sweet potato

Japanese famous musician.

he is a great singer, and I am a fan.

It is the most difficult to carve a face of a person.

do you know this cute dog?

dragon and howk

ingrediants------sweet potato and carrot.

i will up load more carvings, soon or later.

We appeared on TV show!

2006-12-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

I make sushi cake when I have a order.
it is for birth day or party.

Recently,it was preasent surprised to us, but
our restaurant was interviewed
for a TV station!
The TV shows theme was... sushi X'mas cake!

I made a special sushi cake for it, and I
made a vegetable carving for decoration.
(reindeer and Santa Claus made with
carrot, Japanese white radish,and sweet potato)

I love vegetable carving.I'll write about it some other time.

my nigiri style

2006-09-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

In the grasp sushi, there is a name depending on each method. do you know?
"kote gaeshi","honnte gaeshi","tategaeshi"so on...

my type is improvement type of "kote-gaeshi" I was taught from my father.
please take a Look if it's all right with you.

my sushi bar

2006-09-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

An worker of a restaurant is three people of me and mother and the wife who sometimes help us.

We have 7counter seat,2 tatami room(for 18 people),and
we do Delivery too.

I started my carrier from working at french restaurant and
I work as french cook for 8years.
8years ago, I took after my father's restaurant.

it is a big defference between french and japanese sushi
so especialy first 3years was very tough(still now though:)times.

now I'll be able to offer sushi and French cuisine at my shop.
I think this is a time for me to make my own style food,so
I must do my best,more!

I have several reason that I started this brog.
I'ld like to show what a beautiful food sushi is!
and I'ld like to introduce our culture too.
I'ld like to keep writing for my friends.
I'll post how to make sushi and how to treat fishes later on.

Please keep company if you like!

my father's knifes

2006-09-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

When I finish my work, I sharpen a kitchen knife with a whetstone every night.
This knives called [yanagiba]. this is made of steel, so it is easy to be rusted and cannot miss everyday care.
However, it is sharp very well!

The picture above is my kitchen knife. And my father's kitchen knife is below. as you can see, my father's knife is looks changed because of he used this more than 30 years. He also sharpend everyday.
My Father went to heaven eight years ago but This knife is an treasure reminding of father'work.

about me

2006-09-07T02:42:00.000-07:00

hi! My name is oki, I'm living in osaka, running a smoll sushi restaurant with my mother and wife.
My job is making a sushi. sometimes I make a The creation food that combined Japanese food with Western food.

This is my challenge to write a blog with english. my english is very broken but I'ld like to introduce a traditional japanese food "sushi" to the world.
Please keep company if you like! oki

Carving

2006-09-06T09:44:00.000-07:00

tools

2006-09-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

about

2006-09-04T05:38:00.000-07:00

sushi

2006-09-04T05:14:00.000-07:00