Film about sushi master Mitani screened in San Sebastián — The Japan Times

In Spain's San Sebastián, the Culinary Zinema program of the international film festival screened the documentary “MITANI — The Mariage of Sushi” about Tokyo sushi master Yasuhiko Mitani. The film, directed by Keita Ideno and Ivan Kovac, tells not only about cuisine but also about the chef's discipline, life experience and views, The Japan Times reports.

The philosophy of pairing

At the center of the film is Mitani, whose Tokyo restaurant has only six seats and whose reservation waiting time, according to the publication, is four years. The creators show his attempt to present his own concept of “mariage” at the Lotte New York Palace in New York — a term borrowed from French that the chef uses to describe pairing sushi with wine and sake.

Kovac called David Gelb's 2011 documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” the pinnacle of the sushi genre, but said that the creators of “Mitani” sought to offer a different story. According to him, the team wanted to move away from the romanticized image of sushi designed for non-Japanese audiences and show an honest story connected with Japanese culture.

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Access to the master

The directors gained access to Mitani, although he had previously refused to allow media filming. Kovac said that at the end of the first day of filming, the chef would not let the crew leave until they had tasted his dishes. In Mitani's view, without this the filmmakers could not understand his life.

In the film, the theme of pairing food and drinks gradually develops into a broader philosophy shaped by a heart condition that nearly proved fatal, as well as gratitude and spirituality. Producer Tomohiro Ishii noted that the chef also saw the documentary as a record for his students and the next generation of sushi masters.

The San Sebastián festival also recognized Japanese directors: Maha Harada's debut work “In My Father’s Room” won the FIPRESCI and Ateneo Guipuzcoano awards, while Ryusuke Hamaguchi's film “All of a Sudden” received the RTVE Otra Mirada prize.