Unlike the other judges
in their dark suits,
his soon-to-be
employer is wearing
his signature
silk kimono.

Cool, he’s impressed with
Shota’s answers and
the tuna sushi,
made from different cuts
of the same fish.

But his best
is not good enough!
Damn it!

Still, I remember
things
working out for Shota
after this defeat:
he leaves his small
hometown
to work for that
judge, who owns
this 120-year-old
sushi restaurant
in Tokyo.
There, he’s given this
unlimited supply
of ingredients
to hone his skills –
he must have thrown away
so much food
by the end of
each episode!

Sigh Wan
19/07/2024

Reworked 28.03.2026