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Dinner at Sushi Saitou (鮨 さいとう)
with
Tomoko Morikawa
at
Sushi Saitou (鮨 さいとう)
on 4 October 2025
- Photo Views
- 10
- Meal Views
- 203
Back in Japan, our first stop was the familiar counter of Sushi Saito — a place that, after nearly thirty visits, feels like coming home. As always, it was a stellar performance by the master himself. The otsumami reached such refined heights that one can’t help but wonder why Saito-san never became a kaiseki chef; his precision, restraint, and sense of seasonality rival the very best in that world.
Then came the nigiri — pure elegance, every grain of shari tuned to the temperature of the room, every slice of neta whispering balance and depth.
What makes Saito special, though, goes beyond technique. The room has an effortless warmth: laughter bouncing between regulars and apprentices, Saito-san’s signature highballs making their rounds, and a lightness of spirit rare in such temples of craft. It’s dining elevated by joy — a master at peace in his own rhythm.
10 / 10
