Traditionalists unhappy with women Sushi chefs

[Liberal_in_LA]

Hot Women Serving Cold Fish Make for Raw Feelings in Tokyo
Japan's First Sushi Restaurant Staffed by Female Chefs Has Traditionalists Carping

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For the Japanese men who dominate the sushi-making industry—where the craft is traditionally passed down from generation to generation—the move is blasphemous.

"I imagine what they're doing isn't proper sushi-making," sniffs Masanori Nakamura, the 41-year-old owner of Sushi Nakamura in Tokyo, which has been awarded one Michelin star. "They're just trying to imitate the art of making sushi," he says. Mr. Nakamura explains that it takes 10 years to properly learn the art, from choosing the freshest fish at the market; learning how to gut and slice it; forming a perfect mound of rice upon which to place it; and learning the rhythm and cadence of crafting sushi while chatting with customers.

At Nadeshico Sushi, women learn how to make sushi in two months. That is akin, in sushi years, to completing medical school in a few weeks. Of course, the job in this case doesn't involve any of the dirty work involving fish, like gutting and slicing. There are two men in the back of the restaurant who bone fish and discard intestines. Masayuki Yoshino, one of the men behind the screen, has been in the sushi business for 30 years. "My ex-colleagues say I'm a real fool for doing this," he says. "But I thought it would be fun. Sushi is an industry that has a long tradition of discriminating against women." Though there are a few women sprinkled throughout Japan who are sushi chefs, Nadeshico is the only sushi restaurant whose sushi chefs are exclusively female.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254304576117193420193936.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Warpy]

1. Yeah, because women can't possibly be chefs, artists, engineers, or doctors

Oh, wait...

Two months is inadequate training to do the really fancy stuff, but ten years is excessive. As usual, the males are really complaining about women coming in and doing things a lot more sensibly and eventually giving the men some real competition.

However, the women really need to know how to choose, gut and fillet the fish themselves.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. they'll learn as more women enter the field

[Warpy]

17. Right now, it looks like a gimmick

with half trained women out front to pull the suckers in and the real chefs doing all the bull work in the back.

One hopes that on the job training will allow these women to take their places as legitimate sushi chefs.

[HopeHoops]

3. But they'll eat sushi served on a naked woman's body without any problem.

Go figure. :shrug:

[Angry Dragon]

5. Presentation is the key to good sushi

[MineralMan]

4. Ah, I love sushi. Too bad I can't really afford it.

There's something about sitting at a good sushi bar for a couple of hours, sampling the sushi chef's choices and sipping sake that can't be duplicated in any other way.

I just can't afford to do it any more. I still go to one sushi bar, but I order a couple of pieces and leave. That blows my lunch budget for three days, so I don't do it often.

My favorite sushi bar was the one at the Nikko in San Francisco. I used to stay there a couple of times a year on the dime of the magazine I wrote for. It was the hotel they used for everyone coming in from out of town. I didn't put the sushi bill on the magazine's tab, though. I'm not a complete moron. It was my big splurge for the next six months, before I went back to BLT's at the local diner.

[bullwinkle428]

6. Another example of the rampant sexism in the world of chefs -

Tony Bourdain is pretty up-front about how tough it is for women chefs in the business.

[jobycom]

11. They even made that point in Ratatouille. Which Bourdain advised on. nt

[maxsolomon]

7. Doesn't matter anyway

we're about to eat all the fish in the ocean. after that, no sushi.

:(

[hobbit709]

8. Let them eat fugu prepared by an incompetent chef instead.

[speltwon]

9. It's just a Bobbettophobia thing

They fear powerful women with sharp knives skillfully cutting flesh.

[jobycom]

10. Traditionalists are unhappy about everything.

By definition, they hate change, and the world is about change. Even the things they love were once a change some traditionalist supported.

Female guitarists, white rappers, chili with beans... bring on the change!

[damntexdem]

12. Oh, the poor babies!

But reality, like much sushi, is raw.

;-)

[Lucky Luciano]

13. I asked my Japanese fiancée why there are so few female sushi chefs.

She said hand temperatures on women and men are different with men's hands being more optimal. I just shrugged because I don't know if that makes much sense. Temperature is crucial though. I had sushi last Friday and the chef had the rice slightly warm although the fish was fresh. Not sure if I will be back given the multitude of other places where the rice is perfect. Getting the rice right is underestimated - that is hugely important as well.

Soto in NYC's West Village is the best I ever had. Two Michelin stars and relatively easy to get a table ir spot at the bar. We like the bar.

[PoliticAverse]

14. Didn't they see _The Ramen Girl_ ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GYSwiaNz2o

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Traditionalists probably wouldn't like Bacon Sushi, either

screwm.

:hi:

[NV Whino]

16. Japanese men are traditionally sexist

Try doing business with them as a woman.