The UK's first Japanese government-certified sushi college has opened in White City. It's offering courses and classes for anyone including local residents, Michelin star chefs and university students.
The Tokyo College of Sushi & Washoku London satellite school has taken up residence at the Gateway Central building in White City Place, next to the new L'Oreal headquarters.
Its two main teachers are Kaoru Yamamoto, who was head chef at So Restaurant in London for 16 years, and Yoshihiko Shida, a teacher in Tokyo of 33 years affectionately known as 'sushi Yoshi'.
Open Day and masterclasses
Principal Masaru Watanabe encourages anyone to attend the school's Open Day on saturday 26 October. The college is also offering three-hour Christmas masterclasses for businesses and groups to try in December, alongside day trials for anyone interested in becoming a student.
Culinary enthusiasts can enrol in a £10,000 six-month diploma course and a part-time course that lasts six weeks.
Those who successfully pass a certain level of Japanese language and food industry tests could apply for work permit visas in Japan as a Japanese chef, with a maximum validity of five years.
Masaru says the college will offer a 20 per cent discount on its three-hour masterclasses for Hammersmith & Fulham residents and workers in the area.
For the Open Day, he said: "We very much welcome anyone to come for free to see the chef's demonstration and taste sushi."
Masaru also hopes to obtain permission to sell bento boxes made by students as a new lunch option for workers at White City Place.
"The best learning opportunity for students is to get feedback from the customer so we are looking ... to make this happen."
Sushi explosion
According to a Japanese government survey, the number of Japanese restaurants outside Japan has grown dramatically from 54,700 in 2013 to around 187,000 in 2023. The decade has seen a tripling of Japanese restaurants worldwide, with a 20 per cent increase in Europe between 2019 and 2021, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Masaru says there has been a boom in Japanese restaurants across the UK in the last few years as the traditionally healthy cuisine becomes popular in a post-Covid society. But he said many restaurants do not follow authentic Japanese practices.
"Out of 187,000 Japanese restaurants outside of Japan, [the amount] owned by Japanese or led by Japanese chefs is only within five per cent. We need to bring basic ideas [to the UK] because [chefs] have the skills but they are lacking the knowledge."
He said the sushi college, established in Tokyo in April 2016, was becoming more popular among international culinary students compared with native students. By offering courses in English and in London, Masaru hopes the art of Washoku - Japanese cuisine and authentic cooking practices - becomes more accessible globally.
"We decided two years ago ... instead of waiting for [international students] to come to Tokyo, we go outside and teach authentic Japanese cuisine by Japanese chefs in English."
He praised London's rich diversity and White City Place - a collection of six buildings occupying a 17-acre site off Wood Lane. "London is welcoming of foreign cultures, so you have a lot of contacts all over the world [here]," he said. "We have a great opportunity to welcome people from all over."
Japanese presence
The school offers two classrooms with space for around 20 students in each. The Gateway Central building is owned by Japanese real estate giant Mitsui Fudosan, making it part of Japan's wider investment in the borough.
It's also just minutes away from the Japanese garden in Hammersmith Park.
"Our ancestors actually 100 years ago made a big effort to expand our country's culture to London," Masaru said. "We are very much honoured to set up our own college within walking distance from the Hammersmith Park and the Japanese Garden."
He added: "[White City] is good for the creative and educational community. L'Oreal has not only a cosmetics company but also an academy here. It's a really nice opportunity [to be a part of] educational or creative activities in this area."
