Spring is always an eagerly awaited season. As we welcome in warmer weather (and rain, of course, this is Seattle!), and spring blooms, it’s a season of renewed hope for the world around us. It’s also a season for some of the best spring fish from the waters of Japan!

Dive into our new Spring Platter, daily refreshed omakase, and options for enjoying both and more with dine-in, takeout and delivery!

Spring Platter

As we enter spring, we introduce our new seasonal sushi platter – Spring Platter – featuring seasonal fish from Japan! Autumn and winter are seasons with many varieties of fish, but spring also brings us unique and fresh fish. Your favorite tuna and salmon are all in place, but we will also include the best spring fish from Toyosu Market in Tokyo. You’ll notice a new arrangement for some of the nigiri to make it more festive and suitable for the season!

CONTENTS:
Eight Kinds of Fish (4 pieces each)
Two Types of Sushi Rolls
Price: $150 plus tax
Order at least 24-hours in advance
Takeout only, beginning today!

Fish in Season
Sayori (Halfbeak)

Sayori has a distinct look, resembling an uni-cone-like nose. Usually one foot long, Sayori that are any bigger are very rare, and are often very expensive. Even with a regular sized Sayori, harvest is rather limited, and in the past, was often reserved only for gifts.

Despite the limited volume, Sayori is harvested throughout Japan. It has a delicate and noble taste and texture as a white fish, but there is also richness in flavor, similar to Saba (Mackerel). March is the best time of the short season to enjoy Sayori.

Sake in March
Metoba-no-Izumi Yamahai Junmai

Yoikana Brewery, Nagano Japan

Metoba-no-Izumi is brewed by Yoikana Brewery in Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture. Metoba is the name of a river which flows through the city of Matsumoto, and Izumi means “a fountain.” Indeed, there is a well in the land of the brewery, and water from the well is used to brew the sake.

Yamahai utilizes fermentation to melt sake so that it has a rich and sophisticated taste. Metoba-no-Izumi Yamahai has a smoother taste than regular Yamahai sake, yet the characteristic of Yamahai remains with touches of fruits accented with light bitterness and sourness.

It pairs well with foods with rich, but not thick, taste such as Sawara Tataki (seared and marinated King Mackerel) or Uni-Ika-Somen (slim-sliced squid with sea urchin). Enjoy this hard-to-find gem of local sake from Japan!

Japan in March
Railroad Timetable Update (ダイヤ改正)

The railroad system is well-developed in Japan, and people, especially those living in urban areas, rely on trains for their daily commute and travel.

In Japan, there are 22 major railway companies and a whopping 170 small railway companies throughout the country. Of the 22 major companies, six are Japan Railway Companies (JRs, formerly a nationally owned railway company, now privately owned). Those six JRs run exclusively in six geographic areas, covering all of Japan.

JR and the rest of the major railway companies coordinate together to update their timetable in March. This year, they will update their timetable on March 12. With a timetable update, they not only change existing train schedules, but also introduce new lines, new train models, and new services. However, last year and this year they will reduce the volume of operation due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Train commuters adjust their daily lives based on the new train timetable. March is also the last month of the school year and the fiscal year, creating a busy month for change in Japan.

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