Three years ago, a friend who is the head chef at a sushi restaurant mentioned a carrot and asked if I knew Hajime Yoneda. That’s how I learned about HAJIME, a restaurant that earned the fastest Michelin three stars in the world, briefly dropped to two stars, and then reclaimed its three-star status. Hajime Yoneda is a chef who has been ranked number one for several years, even surpassing Shohei Ohtani, as a goal for the next generation of culinary artists. Two years ago, he also gained recognition for his mathematical skills in cooking on the drama "Fermat," achieving first place in a Kyoto University mock exam, revealing his background as an engineer.Finally, I made my visit! Currently, the only menu option is a course priced at JPY 89,000, tax included. My friend also ordered a pairing from DRC for JPY 275,000.The course changes with each visit, and since it was my first time, I experienced the initial course content. I heard that some guests have visited 53 times... it must be enjoyable no matter how many times you go!The course consisted of 14 dishes and took a total of four and a half hours. As I don’t drink alcohol, I often find meals exceeding three hours to be long, but this time flew by, and I hardly had any time to check my phone.Even though the restaurant has no windows, I felt a strong connection to nature. It was raining outside, and I felt as if the rain was merging with me. Moreover, it wasn’t just about sharing a meal with my companion; we shared moments of eye contact and laughter, experiencing surprise and learning together. In today’s world, such moments are becoming increasingly rare, reminding me to cherish each dining experience.As everyone has said, it’s not just about enjoying a delicious dinner; it’s about experiencing the art and philosophy created by the genius chef Hajime Yoneda, and feeling the cycles of nature, the earth, and life. JPY 89,000 is certainly not cheap, but the value of this experience is undeniable. I feel proud and fortunate to have been born in this era with Chef Yoneda and to have such a restaurant in Japan.I want to feel nature again, attend summer festivals, and visit Hajime once more. I want to experience what Chef Yoneda creates.Thank you, it was a great meal!
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