Sakura-tei in Mito, Ibaraki, is Seeking a Successor for Continued Culinary Tradition

The Culinary Legacy of Sakura-tei in Mito

Located just a five-minute drive from Mito Station, the sushi restaurant "Sakura-tei" has been a cherished culinary establishment for nearly four decades. Founded in 1982 by chef Yuuichi Sakurai at the young age of 26, this restaurant has become a staple of the local dining scene, marrying traditional sushi-making with creative innovation.

Growing up in Oarai, Ibaraki, Sakurai was immersed in a world of fish and culinary arts. With a wholesale fish market nearby, he began cooking for his family as a child, further honing his skills by helping local fishmongers. After graduating, he gained invaluable experience apprenticing at a sushi restaurant in Saitama for three years before refining his craft in a renowned sushi establishment in Akasaka, Tokyo.

Among the restaurant's popular offerings is the signature egg omelet, a dish that reflects Sakurai's mastery gained over the years, combining knowledge from his training with his personal touch. When he became a skilled sushi chef, he married and opened his first shop, "Sushi-dokoro Sakurai," in a vacant space owned by his wife’s family, introducing a lunch box delivery service that was rare at the time, setting his establishment apart from competitors.

As demand grew, including lunch orders from a nearby high school, the popularity of their lunch boxes surged, peaking at around 400 boxes per day. This success prompted Sakurai to rebrand the establishment as