Once, sushi restaurants in Ginza weren’t special places.
From the post-war period through the economic boom, they were places of “iki” (stylish) that were simply extensions of daily life.
The lively atmosphere of sushi restaurants where my father would take me, the witty banter with the chef, the sound of laughter from neighboring seats.
This was the very warmth that characterized Ginza.
However, now those traces have faded, and Ginza’s sushi restaurants have become symbols of the “extraordinary.”
Courses exceeding 100,000 yen per person aren’t uncommon, and famous restaurants featured in Michelin guides and social media have transformed into exclusive spaces for dubious wealthy individuals and tourists.
Where has that casual “iki(stylish) disappeared to?
The Light and Shadow of Ginza’s Transformation and “Tourism Nation”
