If you saw Jiro Dreams of Sushi, then you know why I’m smiling like a fool. 

If not, here’s the gist: 

Jiro, in the center, is considered one of Japan’s National Treasures. 

He’s 85 years old and has been making sushi since he was a boy. 

He’s in the Guinness Book of World Records for becoming, at age 82, the world’s oldest Michelin three-star chef. 

His restaurant is in the basement of a Ginza office building, right next to the subway entrance. 

When we made the reservation, we were told to bring cash and don’t wear perfume. 

He only serves sushi. 

No wine list, no choices. 

Omakase. 

20 pieces of sushi, picked by Jiro.

Here’s the tiger shrimp: 

I was allowed to take pictures of the food, but not of Jiro or his son at work. 

In regular life, one of my goals is to be more vegan-ish, but I decided that the time to take this seriously was after Japan.

And definitely after Jiro. 

The entire meal took 30 minutes. 

When we finished, we were given melon and green tea to cleanse the palate. 

It cost more money than any meal I’ve ever had. 

Was it the best sushi of my life?

Probably.

Hands-down the best tomago of my life.(Does everyone know it’s that little omelette, and it’s supposed to be a dessert? I didn’t.)  

And hands down the most electric sushi experience. I thought the sushi at the fish market was a very close second. 

Jiro may dream of sushi, but I’ll dream of this meal.