Japanese Sushi Chef Says You’re Eating Sushi Wrong. Then He Reveals The Right Way: ‘They Put Their Soul Into The Work’

Americans have embraced few foods from abroad as enthusiastically as Japanese sushi. The U.S. even came up with its own now-iconic American-style rolls, including the California roll, spicy tuna roll, dragon roll, and plenty of others.

But debates about the “right” and “wrong” way to eat food from another culture are always popular online, and sushi is a frequent target.

Recently, Japanese creator Mr. Tokyo (@mr.tokyo.adventure) shared a few sushi tips that he says locals know naturally. After some people pushed back, he posted another video explaining the philosophy behind it.

What’s The Right Way To Eat Sushi?

In a previous video on Instagram, Mr. Tokyo explained a few common sushi etiquette tips.

First, he said you should not dip the rice side of sushi into soy sauce. Instead, you should dip the fish side. According to him, the rice absorbs too much soy sauce and can make the sushi fall apart.

He also said ginger is meant to be eaten between pieces of sushi to cleanse your palate, not on top of the sushi itself.

And finally, he told viewers not to feel forced to eat sushi with chopsticks. Using your hands is also normal.

The advice seemed harmless enough, but not everyone took it that way.

Mr. Tokyo later responded in a video that got over 706,500 views. At the start, he included a clip from “Billions,” where a character scolds people for putting ginger on sushi and drowning pieces in soy sauce. In the clip, the character argues that the sushi chef is an artist who spent a decade training, and that people should not ruin the work.

For context, many sources report that to become a sushi master or imitae, you’d need around 10 years of training.

“Yep, I totally agree with him,” Mr. Tokyo says after the clip.

He says that after posting his first sushi video, he got comments from viewers saying things like, “We’ll eat it however we want,” and “I paid, I’ll eat it how I want.”

Mr. Tokyo says he understands that argument.

“Yes, you are right,” he says. “You pay for it. You can eat sushi however you want.”

He Says It’s About Respecting The Craft

According to Mr. Tokyo, though, the point is not really about enforcing rules on strangers.

“But in Japan, there’s something more deeper,” he says. “We have a mindset of gratitude and respect for the chef and for craftsman.”

He says nobody is going to physically stop someone from eating sushi however they want. But for many Japanese people, showing respect for the person who made the food is part of the experience.

“This is not a rule,” he says. “No one will stop you. But for Japanese people, this respect is natural.”

Then he explains why he feels strongly about it.

“Some sushi chefs spent 10 years just learning how to make tamagoyaki,” he says, referring to the Japanese rolled omelet often served at sushi restaurants.

“Becoming a sushi chef is not easy,” he adds. “They put their soul into their work.”

He clarifies that he doesn’t think the issue is that every tourist has to eat perfectly. It’s also to experience the food for what it is.

“If you come to Japan, I hope you don’t eat just sushi,” he says. “I hope you feel Japanese spirit behind it. That’s all I want.”

Commenters Still Were Not Convinced

In the comments, viewers didn’t understand his point.

“Being pretentious is not a virtue,” one person wrote.

Another said they could respect the chef’s work without giving up their own preferences.

“Sushi Chef trained for 10 years, but I’ve had my taste buds my entire life,” they wrote. “I respect the chef’s efforts, but he should respect my free will.”

But others agreed with Mr. Tokyo, especially when it comes to traveling in another country.

“As an American, I absolutely agree,” one commenter wrote. “When going to another country you should respect their culture and traditions. I would never intentionally disrespect someone in their own home.”

That seems to be where the whole debate lands. Yes, you can technically eat sushi however you want. No one is arresting you for putting ginger on top.

But if you are in Japan, especially at a serious sushi restaurant, the point may be less about doing whatever you paid for and more about understanding what the chef was trying to give you.

BroBible has reached out to Mr. Tokyo via TikTok and Instagram for comment.