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Jiro Ono

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Jiro Ono is a very famous sushi chef. He is a master of his craft in Japan. People call him one of the greatest living sushi craftsmen. He even helped create new ways to make sushi. He owns a restaurant called Sukiyabashi Jiro. This shop is located in Ginza, Tokyo. Many people travel to taste his food.

Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014

Making sushi takes a lot of skill and practice. Jiro learned how to do this from a very young age. He began working at a local restaurant when he was seven. Later, he moved to the big city of Tokyo. There, he studied as an apprentice to learn the trade. He became a qualified sushi chef in 1951. In 1965, he finally opened his own shop.

Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014

Many important leaders have visited his restaurant. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has eaten there. United States President Barack Obama also visited in April 2014. Obama said he had eaten a lot of sushi in Hawaii. However, he said this was the best sushi ever. This shows how much people value his work.

Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014

Jiro's family is also part of the sushi world. He has two sons named Yoshikazu and Takashi Ono. Both of his sons are sushi chefs too. Takashi manages his own restaurant with a Michelin star. Yoshikazu now runs Sukiyabashi Jiro most of the time. Jiro stepped away from daily work due to his health. He turned 100 years old on October 27, 2025.

Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014

Jiro loves his work very much. He said he wants to keep making sushi. He even spoke about this on Respect for the Aged Day. However, the family has some worries about the ocean. They fear that overfishing might happen. This could make key ingredients for sushi disappear. They want to protect the fish used in traditional recipes.

Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
Barack Obama and Shinzo Abe at Sukyabashi Jiro April 2014
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