I was talking to Ben Ackerman at work one day and we got on the topic of Sushi. He suggested I watch the movie “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”. I had seen the poster for it on my Netflix account for a few years, but I know very little about Japan and the Japanese culture and I know even less about sushi, so I never watched it. Thanks to Ben, I did.
The story of the family and the sushi is so beautiful. The filming is beautiful. I actually felt choked up a few times – watching a documentary about sushi… and about people’s lives. I realized at the end of the movie that I had stopped the video several times to reflect on what was being said… which prompted me to share my thoughts here.
I think “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” may be the most beautiful documentary I’ve ever seen.
Some of the ideas Jiro and others share that struck me are here:
- When you pick a career, love it. Don’t complain about it. Work hard to be better.
- Parents should not tell their children ‘if it doesn’t work out, you can come back.’ They need to know that failure is not an option. It should make them work harder and be committed to doing their best to succeed.
- ‘These days people want an easy job. Then they wants lots of free time. Then they wants lots of money.’ – I don’t know if this idea has ever been truer. At least in America, more people than ever just want to be ‘managers’ or leaders… everyone wants to think they they’re smarter than everyone else and they deserve more…
- Most people can’t keep up with hard work and they quit.
- “Studying hard doesn’t guarantee you will become a respectable person.” “Always doing what you are told doesn’t mean you will succeed in life.”
- “Always look ahead and above yourself.”
What beautiful ideas and ideals. These are some of the strict ideas that makes the Japanese culture so strong and powerful and special.
Even if you aren’t a sushi fan, watch this movie – for the beauty of the cinematography – for the message – or for the sushi if you know what you’re looking at…