100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #131: Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Directed by David Gelb
“Once you decide on your profession, you must immerse yourself in your work. You must fall in love with your work.” - Jiro Ono
Next year, I am going to Japan for the first time, and the first thing I immediately did when looking into what to do during my brief time in Tokyo was look up how to get a reservation at Sukiyabashi Jiro. Unfortunately I learned, the restaurant is no longer open to the public due to both tourists not following etiquette and head chef Jiro Ono saying his “hands don’t work so well” as they had in the past.
Because Jiro Ono turned 100 years old this year.
Shot in 2011, Jiro Dreams of Sushi follows Ono at the spry young age of 85 as he manages his acclaimed sushi restaurant in the most unlikely of places: Sukiyabashi Jiro is located in a metro station in Tokyo, and, like the cuisine served there, is not excessively showy and could easily be missed.
Yet those who have been there, as shown in the film, consider a visit to the restaurant to be a near-religious experience. What’s the reason for the hype?
To understand its appeal- and Jiro Ono’s incredible longevity and continued mental fortitude- we have to explore some Japanese philosophy.
In his book, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles define the Japanese term ikigai as “the happiness of always being busy”. They cite the elderly residents of the island of Okinawa as particularly embodying this way of life, where there are 24.55 people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants. While they cite a healthy diet and the subtropical climate as a key factor in their longevity, they believe the real secret is their sense of purpose within their shared community. In the community each member has a specific role or craft that they specialize in that keeps their mind active and gives them the motivation for everyday life.
A great example of a Japanese filmmaker who embodies ikigai is Hayao Miyazaki, who at 84 still is making animated films (despite multiple threats of retirement). His last film, The Boy and the Heron, won the 2024 Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Jiro Ono and his sons, Yoshikazu and Takashi, all embody this spirit of ikigai. Jiro in particular has an extremely rigid work ethic, working through holidays and sometimes even missing funerals. Despite the extreme nature of his work, this is due to a true love for the art of sushi-making. As he puts it:
I fell in love with my work and gave my life to it. Even though I’m eighty five years old I don’t feel like retiring
Throughout the documentary, we see how his employees are constantly in awe of Jiro and how hard they strive to please him. Some are more intimidated than others, and even his oldest son Yoshikazu will do anything for him.
Yet the relentless pursuit of perfection is inspiring to watch, and the dedication to even the smallest of details is fascinating. Several scenes show Yoshikazu at the market, as he describes the relationships his father has fostered with their vendors over the years and the uniqueness of these vendors in their respective trades.
I would recommend watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi to all who are interested in food but also in watching true masters do what they do best. I find it to be inspiring and reinvigorating every time I watch it.
It’s currently free on YouTube with ads!