Ever heard of this wicked documentary film in 2011 called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"? Yes, it's a documentary on 85-year-old Jiro Ono, a sushi master and the owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a three-starred Michelin restaurant in Tokyo; on his lifelong quest to perfect his style of sushi making art. This documentary film also features Jiro's two sons. The oldest son, Yoshikazu (50 years old), is expected to be Jiro's successor to take over the flagship restaurant one day. While the youngest son, Takashi, opened a branch restaurant in Roppongi Hills and already collected 2 Michelin stars. If you have no idea on what I'm talking about, enjoy its official trailer:

Ever since I watched (and drooled over) the 81-minutes long footage, I knew that someday I will have to visit the store. Even if it costs ￥30,000 per visit and we have to book 2 months in advance. Even if some of the reviews are negative about the ice-cold atmosphere and the grumpy strict chef (although it's addressed to another branch store instead). And even if we did eat there, us bloggers won't have enough time to take pictures (moreover to tweet :p), because Jiro will ask you to eat what he serves right in front of you immediately or else it will hurt his pride. It's a fast-paced 15 course in 20 minutes. And time really is money in this case.

Well at least last month during my #JapanTrip I was taking my time to deliberately make a visit to the Ginza station's basement, and witness where the legendary Sukiyabashi Jiro restaurant took place. I know that I can only afford to take photos in front of the store for now, but hopefully Jiro lives long enough to let me save up some more. If not, I will still aim to try his youngest son's branch in Roppongi Hills. Someday.

Sukiyabashi Jiro, the legendary sushi restaurant at the basement of Ginza Station. There's just something in the atmosphere in this cold basement. The smell of arrogance, hard-work to achieve perfection that only sushi-connoisseurs would understand.

Sukiyabashi Jiro (Father's owned)
Tsukamoto Sogyo Building, Basement 1st Floor, 2-15, Ginza 4-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Phone: 03-3535-3600 (+81-3-3535-3600 from abroad)
http://www.sushi-jiro.jp/eng-index.html

Current reservation status (2013/4/3) - from its webpage:
"As of April, we are fully booked until the end of May. From May 1, we will be ready to accept a reservation for June." WOW.

Sukiyabashi Jiro (Roppongi branch - Two Michelin stars, owned by Jiro's youngest son Takashi Ono)
6-12-2 Roppongi | Roppongi Hills Keyakizaka-dori 3F, Minato, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan. It's a 15-minute walk from the Roppongi metro station on the Oedo line.
Phone: +81 3-5413-6626

Damn Antonio Bourdain was a lucky guy. (Sorry I can't help myself from sharing this kick-ass YouTube video, lol.)

Cheers!