Educational Media Reviews Online

Weaving together personal accounts from diverse perspectives including: sushi chef masters, knife makers, tuna dealers, brokers, and buyers, marine biologists, restaurant owners, a nutritionist, a Greenpeace activist, a retired president of Japan Airlines, CEOs, and an aqua culture pioneer; this documentary seeks to address the future of the sushi industry in Japan and abroad.

We begin with a history detailing the deliberate yet simple process of sushi; including the precise craftsmanship of the knives, the painstaking seven year apprenticeship of learning the trade, and the hands-on process of purchasing tuna at auctions. Each of these testimonies reiterates the necessity of holding onto historical traditions and the passing down of knowledge through generations.

The main dilemma addressed is of the industry facing colossal growth worldwide. This exploding appetite for sushi will likely wipe out the blue fin tuna population, resulting in ecological distress. The film includes easy-to-understand diagrams with simple explanations.

Solutions are offered, although nothing is touted as the ideal means of reducing the negative effects of over-fishing. While the film maintains an unbiased outlook on the problem, there are clear partialities that lean towards the necessity of “sustainable fishing.”

The consumer is appealed to as an individual to make his or her own choices regarding sushi, which can contribute to conservation. Resources are provided at the end of the film for further research.

The score compliments each account without distracting, while the backdrop paints a picture of contrast between the respected traditions of the past and the current commonplace availability of sushi.

Awards Received

• Winner, Special Jury Prize, Seattle International, 2011
• Winner, Best Feature, Hawai’i Ocean, 2011
• Winner, Audience Favorite, San Francisco Green, 2012