Is Sushi Expensive?

For some, sushi is expensive. I understand that. Given "expensive" is a subjective term, I would like you to consider the following.

For King Salmon to mature to adulthood, it takes 3 to 8 years. For Bluefin Tuna to mature, 3 to 5 years. Not to mention rice, rice vinegar, nori, and other ingredients used to make sushi require months and years of time before being served to us as sushi.

And then, the person who is making our sushi, the sushi chefs. I now know mastering the art of sushi is a lifetime journey. Sure, I have attained some skills, but even after twenty years, I still feel like I am just starting. There is so much to learn. There are more things I don't know than things I know.

I always remember all the sushi chefs I've worked with, particularly Jin san, who started his sushi career in Tokyo at fifteen. When I met Jin san, he must have had at least thirty years of sushi experience when I only had one and a half years. If he is still making sushi at the sushi bar, he would have over 50 years of experience under his belt.

If I were to eat the sushi Jin san makes now, the sushi he makes would have 50 years of his experience, sushi skills, all the sushi he made, all the customers he served. Yes, it's just a piece of nigiri that has all Jin san's essence put into it.

That's how I look at it sushi. That's how I look at the food I eat.

Whenever I meet such a person as Jin san and have an opportunity to eat the food he makes, I am grateful. I am grateful for his devotion. I am also grateful for the blessing of nature.

So, the question is: Is $200 sushi dinner expensive?

For me, it's priceless.