Sushi is As Sushi Does: Coeds Cram Panda Rolls into Sushi Chef Gender Gap

Nadeshico Sushi restaurant in Tokyo is filling a long-standing gender gap with panda bear and frog face maki, crafted by the first-ever all female sushi chef lineup (WSJ, via VV).

Sort of. They get the guys to do all the icky stuff.

The whole article's a real leg-slapper, but can be best summed up with this gem of a title:  

Hot Women Serving Cold Fish Make for Raw Feelings in Tokyo: Japan's First Sushi Restaurant Staffed by Female Chefs Has Traditionalists Carping.

Google "hot women", "cold fish", "raw feelings in Tokyo" and "first sushi" with your Safe Search turned off. I double dog dare you. I carp you.

In fact, skip ALL of that and just search "Nadeshico", the restaurant's namesake (translates literally to "ideal woman"). NSFW.

The centuries-old official line regarding gender disparity in sushi chefdom is that women have naturally warmer hands than men, which is detrimental to the handling of spanking-fresh raw fish. On top of that, wimmen are covered in girly sh*t, like perfume and cosmetics, that could effect the purity of the fish.

Things that also effect the purity of fish: Being black, white, Latin, non-Japanese Asian or any mix thereof. They also hate kittens, gays, big people, little people, cripples, vampires, zombies, the homeless and Bieber fans. Oh, and chicks over 25:

Kazuya Nishikiori, the middle-aged owner of Nadeshico, says he wanted to create a new model for working women in Japan. But he later explains he'll only hire women who are between the ages of 18 and 25 to work behind the counter. "After all, our slogan is 'fresh and kawaii,"' he explains, invoking the ubiquitous word for "cute." "If someone wanted to work here and was 30, I'd put her in the back."  [WSJ]

This culinary tour de force is "one floor below the massage parlor that promises 'total relaxation'" in the Akihabara district, the tech geek wonderland rife with maid cafes and pillow girlfriends.

On the upside, if the fish-eating pervs are all in one spot, they'll be easier to avoid.

People, for the love of God, don't blame pandas. Or cosplay. They can be used for the forces of good.

Comments

[Lifeofthemind]

Thank you for replacing all my embarrassing old fantasies with fresh new fantasies. At one time the Japanese government with a straight face claimed that they had to restrict the importation of American ski equipment because Japan has "a special type of snow."

The sushi looks so cute that the appropriate agencies should be warned about imminent toxic levels of cuteness melting the Innertubes. Now can you explain the appeal of anime to me?

[from b e h i n d]

Anime: Rub it, and then you do it. Mit panda paw.

[chaospearl]

Everytime I read shit about someone or other stating that they only hire under 30... I get this urge to go apply for a job.

I'm one of those hateful people who will still look like a teenager when I'm 40. Last week I had lunch with my mom during her break - she teaches science to 6th graders. Afterwards I walked with her back to her classroom and in the time it took me to get through the hallways on my way out, two different teachers and the AP had asked me for my hall pass. This is a JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. My 30th birthday is in two months. Shoot me please.

I'm always told that I'll be grateful to look so young, one day. People have been saying this since I was 18. Is it one day yet? Do you have any idea how embarassing it is to have to show your driver's license to the school principal to prove you aren't in fact a 12 yr old student and thus should be allowed to walk out of the building?

[Billy]

I swear this could be a new fetish. Mmmmm warm hands....

[from b e h i n d]

all I can think of is Principal Rooney "busting" she-who-he-mistook-as-Ferris at the arcade in FBDO.

Funny how Jeffrey Jones is a bonafide sex offender to boot. Les jeux sont faits!

[Nohemi Tutterrow]

Well, that's a good start for the restaurant. If people want a whole change in sushi-making, then they would have to wait for a few more ideals to change that. The change may happen a step at a time, but it's still something.