中崎 健二
Recently, I had a refreshing weekend because there was a typhoon during the consecutive holidays. I have been dabbling in rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling), and I was shocked to hear about the passing of Enraku Shisho. Perhaps he is now being scolded by the previous Enraku Shisho and Katsura Shijaku in heaven for arriving there with such a foolish expression. I can't stay downcast. I want to become a person who spreads smiles like Enraku Shisho. I will listen to rakugo again after a long time to improve my skills. Rakugo is very useful for everyday communication and presentations.
First, I need to prepare myself, so today I visited Ichijo in Higashi-Nihonbashi. The restaurant opened in 2015 and has already become popular. I had heard about it from Go-hobi Ohitori Sushi and finally had the chance to visit today. It's only a few minutes' walk from Higashi-Nihonbashi Station to Ichijo. The bicycle displayed in front of the restaurant has a nice touch to it.
When I entered the restaurant, the master warmly welcomed me. He had a very pleasant personality, which helped me relax. The fish case displayed delicious toppings. I will provide my thoughts on the experience as I progress.
First, while sipping a small bottle of beer, I enjoyed about three pieces. The vinegar-flavored shari rice was well-cooked and had a firm texture. The flatfish had a gradually deepening flavor as I chewed. It will become even more delicious as we transition into winter. The squid had a crisp texture and a delightful sweetness. The clam had a crunchy texture, and its flavor and sweetness were irresistible. Continuing on, I decided to ask for a snack course. Since there was Hidaka-mi, I decided to have a sake in the middle of the day.
Moving on to the snacks, the conger eel was a dangerous choice of snack provided by the master. When I took a bite, I was impressed by its rich flavor. The octopus liver was another dangerous choice of snack provided by the master. It was served with a thin slice of Nara-zuke on top. The sauce was rich, and both the octopus liver and the Nara-zuke had intense flavors. However, when I ate it, it was surprisingly refreshing. It was a remarkable dish! The sauce seemed to have been simmered, and it was wonderfully fragrant. Wasabi provided a refreshing aftertaste. By the time I noticed, my sake was gone. I added another order of Hidaka-mi.
The steamed oyster was the final dish. It was topped with onions. The intense oyster flavor paired wonderfully with the sour onion sauce. I then resumed with sushi. The horse mackerel had a firm texture, and it had a robust umami flavor when combined with the shari. The tuna wasn't too fatty, but it had a rich flavor that went well with red vinegar. The scallop was colored and was simmered, as I was informed by the master. It had a matured taste as I chewed, reminiscent of simmered dishes. On top, there was a sprinkling of green citrus (I think). The finish was refreshing. The shrimp was boiled before being peeled and served. The more I chewed, the more the shrimp's sweetness and aroma came out. Surprisingly, a sardine was served at this point. They seem to pass through vinegar instead of being marinated with kombu, resulting in a refreshing and sweet sardine. Additionally, sweet oboro was placed in between, enhancing the overall experience. The shrimp's sweetness and aroma emerged more as I continued chewing. Then, a mullet was served. It was not marinated with kombu but was passed through vinegar, resulting in a refreshing, sweet mullet. Additionally, sweet oboro was placed in between, enhancing the experience. Finally, the shellfish was served. The shellfish texture was tender, and it had a crab-like umami flavor that was incredible. The green citrus on top provided a refreshing aftertaste. Now, I will continue with the nigiri. The horse mackerel had a firm texture and packed a punch of flavor when combined with the shari. The tuna wasn't very fatty, but it had a rich flavor that paired perfectly with the red vinegar. The scallop was colored and simmered, as I was informed by the master. It matured taste as I chewed, reminding me of a simmered dish. The green citrus on top provided a refreshing finish. The shrimp was boiled and peeled. The more I chewed, the more the sweetness and aroma of the shrimp emerged. The mullet was prepared in the same way as the sardine. Plus, sweet oboro was placed in between, enhancing the flavor. The shrimp had been boiled and peeled, and the more I chewed, the more the sweetness and aroma emerged. The paste was a seasoned vegetable from the innards, I think. The sauce was rich, and both the paste and the pickled vegetables had intense flavors. However, when I ate it, it was surprisingly refreshing. It was a remarkable dish! The sauce seemed to have been simmered, and it was wonderfully fragrant. Wasabi provided a refreshing aftertaste. By the time I noticed, my sake was gone. I added another order of Hidaka-mi. The steamed oyster was the final dish. It was topped with onions. The intense oyster flavor paired wonderfully with the sour onion sauce. Now, I will continue with the nigiri.