Upon stepping into the modern exterior, you are greeted by a dimly lit entrance. As you enter the dining area, the atmosphere transforms into a bright and elegant space that heightens your anticipation for the meal ahead.First, I ordered a drink. The menu features local sake from Ehime, but I was intrigued by a rare kasu-tori shochu. When I asked the chef, he explained that it was a ginjo-style shochu made in collaboration with local Ishizuchi Brewery. This drink was aromatic and exceptionally smooth, perfectly complementing the seafood.The meal began with blue eel sourced from Okayama in the Setouchi region. The skin was gelatinized and grilled to achieve a crispy texture, resulting in an unexpectedly delightful flavor that captured my heart from the very first bite.Next, I enjoyed sashimi made from the back and belly of hamo (pike eel) caught in Imabari. Not only was it delicious, but the contrasting textures and flavors were fascinating.The abalone from Nikamijima was served with its own juices and a liver sauce. The remaining liver sauce was mixed with the customary sushi rice, making it a perfect pairing with the drink.The kinmedai (red snapper) was grilled to a crispy skin while the flesh was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, rivaling any French chef's technique.The freshly caught kiji-hata (paralichthys olivaceus) was elegantly presented in a bowl.The excitement continued with the nigiri that followed.The swordfish, sliced with a special knife that took two years to create, showcased the squid's natural sweetness, offering an unparalleled flavor experience.Next came the red mullet, grilled over charcoal, along with freshly caught shirasu (whitebait), and red sea urchin that had been rested for three days after being harvested from Nikamijima.The array of sushi, primarily featuring the blessings of the Seto Inland Sea, left me utterly moved.For the first time in a while, I felt a deep gratitude for being born Japanese.I could endure any hardship just to enjoy this sushi again...I left the restaurant with a vow in my heart: "I will definitely return here."
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