We asked about the thoughts of General Hiroshi Sasaki of “Gion Sasaki,” the most popular restaurant in Kyoto where reservations are hard to come by.

I recently met Hiroshi Sasaki of “Gion Sasaki,” which fully reopened this August after being closed and under renovation for about six months.

Some restaurants have been in business for 3, 4, or even 15 generations of chefs, and are truly connected by the blood of tradition and prestige.

In one generation, he has built up eight disciples, all of whom are known as “Sakaki Ichimonkai,” and all of whom have become restaurants that attract gourmets from Japan and abroad.

Ogaawa”, “Gion Nishikawa”, “Old Pine Kitagawa”, “Gion Kida”, “Nishi-buchi Hanten”, “Ryoriya Maekawa”… all are popular restaurants where reservations are extremely difficult.

The counter seating has been reduced from 17 to 12 to make it more spacious, the innovative stone oven has been removed, and the fully open kitchen allows diners to see what is cooking.

He said, “I cook with young staff,” “I try to protect young people and pursue new dishes together,” and “The era of ‘me, me, me’ is no longer here.

When I first had Mr. Sasaki’s cuisine, it was a shocking sensation that ‘grabbed my stomach with a thud. That left a strong impression on me.

Now, from the dynamic one-man stage cooking of the “Sasaki Theater,” he will bring out the sensibility of the younger generation and bring them to the stage as the “Sasaki Theater Company,” and watch over them as their leader, and nurture their talents for future generations…

Hmmm…great thinking!

This is an innovative and novel way to promote the Sasaki philosophy in the traditional and prestigious city of Kyoto…

I will be back next month in September with my wife for a delicious meal.

Looking forward to it…