Shopping Guide
Tabimori, Inc. is launching a new service from July 27 aimed at travellers visiting Japan from abroad. Through Sushiuniversity®, you’ll be able to taste delicious Edomae sushi even if you don’t know any Japanese thanks to their sushi shop translation service.
[Sushiuniversity® is service which aims to make visitors from overseas proficient enough to visit sushi restaurants as if it’s a totally normal thing. Not only will they introduce you to some great restaurants, they’ll even meet you at your hotel and take you there all included in the price of your service. You can choose the course which best suits your budget and get a special lecture translating sushi toppings and explaining etiquette in English.
The official website lists 12 different languages available including English, Chinese, Korean, and Taiwanese, reflecting the demand for sushi right across the world. They also plan to add Indonesian and Vietnamese among many others as they expand.
Background
The number of people visiting Japan from overseas exceeded 10 million in 2013 and in the run up to the olympics in 2020, it’s estimated that this will increase to around 30 million. The kinds of trips have changed too with people moving away from package tours to free travel looking for a more personal experience. These days, people often look up popular sushi restaurants on internet rating sites to find hidden gems and make a reservation or they may want to contact Michelin Star restaurants directly.
However, the more you venture out to upmarket restaurants, the more common it becomes to go for the set menu, with the customer often not knowing what each dish is until it arrives. These set menus are great for Japanese people but for those from overseas it seems like such a rarefied world - understanding the culture wrapped up in sushi toppings, enjoying talking with the restaurant staff, satisfying the palate and spirit like someone born and raised in Japan.
All About Sushiuniversity®
“Get to know today’s set menu in 12 languages!”
Choose from the 12 different languages on offer (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (simplified/traditional), Korean, Thai, and Japanese) and familiarise yourself with the day’s set menu ahead of time so you can become proficient enough to head straight to the restaurant as if you go there all the time.
Getting to understand the sushi toppings ahead of time through the interpreter, you can relax and ask simple questions or voice your impressions right there and then. So even if you don’t speak any Japanese, you can find out everything you wanted to know about the sushi world with the help of the interpreter.
Choose a Course Aligned with Your Budget - Translation and Escort Charges
On the official website you can choose from three grades of service - standard (10,000 yen), intermediate (20,000 yen) or premium (30,000 yen) - each including sushi and translation charges.
Also, if you let them know in advance if there’s anything you don’t eat, they’ll try and find you an appropriate restaurant in central Tokyo within a 30-minute train ride of your hotel. 1 The interpreter will meet you in your hotel lobby on the day and escort you so you can go to the restaurant together.
Understanding sushi toppings, restaurant style and how to eat sushi - you can make use of the guide’s extensive knowledge in this special lecture.
The lecture is not conducted at a table but at the counter seats, so the highest number of people you can take is seven and the fewest is two. Whilst sitting at the counter, you can enjoy cultivated conversation with the restaurant staff through the interpreter.
Through the lecture you can come to understand the various sushi techniques which have become a part of Japanese culture with an explanation of the skilfully prepared toppings and traditional events as well as the different kinds of restaurants and eating etiquette.
The stories of the great sushi chefs have been included in the menu, and customers will never need to ask about etiquette or how to actually eat something unless there’s an occasion where you really need to know. It’s not a strict lecture but a way of passing time in a gentle atmosphere.
You can even take photos in high class restaurants which don't usually allow it. In many of the best sushi restaurants they don’t allow you to take photos but as a student of Sushiuniversity® you’ll be able to take as many as you want. Sushiuniversity®’s primary aim is not just to give you a simple meal but to provide a fun experience of a sushi restaurant as a part of your trip to Japan.
About Tabimori, Inc.
Tabimori, Inc. operates under the mission statement of wanting to support the desire for travel and aims to distribute fresh and appealing information to travellers throughout the world. By removing the language barrier in sending out information in multiple languages and developing their travel services, Tabimori, Inc. continues to expand its business whilst supporting international travellers.
^1^ There is no online reservation system. After your application form is received, the interpreter will call you to confirm your reservation and send you an email with the confirmation form once all the details are worked out. You can pay in cash at the appointed time.
Source: @Press
