May 2016 - #25 May is coming to an end. Once June arrives, the rainy season will begin. The seasons change quickly. On the way home from work, I couldn't resist taking a detour. As soon as the door opened, "Hey! Welcome!" I sat at the counter and poured a bottled beer into a beer mug. The foam rose as I poured. I sucked in the expanded foam. I repeated the process of pouring, emptying the mug, and pouring again. The sake served was just right. There was no need to stay long. "Give me a teppou," I said, enjoying a kanpyo roll with plenty of wasabi. This is my favorite. With a cool look, I became a teppou-tama and headed straight home. March 2015 - #1 On the way back from enjoying a Sunday afternoon drink in Yokohama... I got off at Tokyu Naka-Meguro station via Keihin-Tohoku Oimachi line. "I'm pretty drunk already. Phew..." I thought, but I suddenly felt like having another drink alone. It's a clear sign of the end stage. It was around 4:30 in the evening. There aren't many places around here that make you hesitate at this time. Especially on a Sunday. I aimed for a signboard with a red background and "Ken Sushi" written in black. They were open. There were about three super veteran drinkers at the counter. Feeling sorry but cutting in, I ordered a beer. "Sure," the bartender said. I casually wiped the fog on the glass case with my hand. "Himo" and "miru" greeted me. "Good evening." "I'll have himo and miru shells as a snack." "Sure," said Ken-san with a resonant voice. I don't know if the old man's name is Ken, but let's just go with it. The "miru" had a firm texture and a light and witty spring taste. The "red himo" was not to be outdone. May happiness be with the changing seasons. Next to the beer, I ordered, "Okay, warm sake." "Sure." The glass case without fog looked good, so I said, "Akami on a plate, as a snack." "Sure." I felt satisfied and in a good mood. I thought about talking to Ken-san, "Sir, how old are you?" He smiled, "75 years old." Wow, that's amazing. Full of energy. I had a lively conversation with the super veteran drinkers at the counter. It turns out Ken-san is around the same age as them. Bright and energetic, this must be what it means. I'm impressed. This is my second visit to this restaurant. Sushi restaurants in shopping streets are often occupied by regular customers. It can be intimidating for a first-timer, but this place has a welcoming atmosphere where you can easily blend in. It must be Ken-san's personality. And it's cheap. Today, after finishing the kanpyo roll, the bill was just over 5,000 yen. "Thank you very much." "You're welcome, as always." By the way, there was a movie starring Takakura Ken where he retires from the underworld and becomes a sushi chef in a Ginza sushi restaurant. In the end, he is forced to return to his former yakuza life due to obligations and loyalty... The old man at "Ken Sushi" must have been in this line of work for decades. The twisted headband is stylish. Hey, Ken-san!! The best in Japan...

It's hard to say for sure, but I decided to take a bit of a risk and try it out. Surprisingly, the food was really delicious. I ordered the regular sushi for 1000 yen, and the premium sushi for 2000 yen. The premium sushi had sea urchin and salmon roe, and the tuna was cut quite thick. The rice balls were large, so it might be better to order smaller ones. They are also open on Sundays, which is convenient. Some customers smoke, but they also offer delivery for those who are concerned. It might be worth trying out.

I don't particularly crave sushi, but when deciding on a place to eat at this time, I usually go to a place that I think might be open. It's always good when the place is open. The restaurant is run by an elderly couple, and it has a very homely atmosphere. Even when they are open for business, the grandma is usually sitting at a table reading a newspaper or looking at flyers. In my mind, I don't call this place "Ken Sushi," but rather "Grandpa Sushi," because it has that kind of vibe. My friend and I usually have about 3-4 bottles of beer, along with a variety of sushi dishes, and it usually costs us around 6000-8000 yen. The affordability is also a big draw for us.