Sushi chef Mr. Masayoshi Kazato from Chiba made his second visit to Houston from June 4 to 7, 2013. Mr. Kazato was invited by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) last year to celebrate the Houston-Chiba Sister City Partnership entering its 40th year and to help introduce sushi as one example of the culinary culture of Japan. He was appointed an honorary citizen from the Houston city during his visit.
This year, as Mr. Kazato was in Houston at the same time as Honorable Toshiyuki Ogawa, the Chiba City Assembly Chairperson and the Honorable Hiroaki Kawamura, Chiba City Assembly Member who also visited Houston from June 3 to the 7, Acting Consul-General Watabe hosted a welcome reception at the official residence on June 5th. At the reception, Mr. Kazato made sushi in front of guests and gave remarks about sushi. The Norwegian Seafood Council, who had previously worked with Mr. Kazato, offered a kind donation of salmon for the Consulate reception. Mr. Kazato used the salmon and several other pieces of fish to prepare sushi. This reception quickly became an excellent opportunity to become more familiar with Japanese culture through sushi.
On the night of the 6th, Mr. Kazato gave a sushi lecture to the general public at Rice University. In the lecture, he talked not only about the cultural background and the taste of sushi, but also about the various ways and techniques that have been devised and refined to help maintain the freshness of raw fish. More than 100 participants attended the lecture and deepened their understanding about Japanese food culture. |
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