Exclusive: Iron Chef Morimoto Talks Sushi Master

What is it about cooking competition shows that we love? After all, it’s not like we can eat the food, or even smell it. It feels like the ultimate kind of window shopping — watching people cook and bake things that we will never enjoy. And yet, there is something suspenseful, charming, educational, and even deeply human about some TV cooking competitions.

While many of them devolve into shouting, overly dramatic music, and manipulative editing, some of them stand out as genuinely great television, such as The Great British Bake-Off and Iron Chef. That latter series, especially in its original Japanese incarnation but also Iron Chef America, is often considered the greatest cooking competition franchise of all time.

Ironically, one of the great original Iron Chefs, Chef Masaharu Morimoto, is now presenting what’s arguably the best cooking show of the past decade — Morimoto’s Sushi Master, a new Roku Original.

Who Is Sushi Master?

Maybe it’s beginner’s luck, maybe it’s just a great batch of contestants for this first season, but one thing is obvious, and that’s the utter delight and magnetism of this fantastically entertaining show. Though it could seem limiting to reduce a show like this to sushi, the boundaries of the series are looser than just that. Just when you think they’ll only filet fish and make fancy rolls, contestants cook Japanese street food (which, sure, includes sushi, but also gyoza, yakitori, and so on).

Hosted by Lyrica Okano (who occasionally translates Chef Morimoto’s native witticisms and wisdoms), Sushi Master finds Chef Morimoto joined by the iconic chefs Dakota Weiss and J. Kenji López-Alt as judges, and the three observe and taste the mouth-watering, eye-opening, and mind-melting food that eight unique contestants cook up in different challenges.

The cooks are a brilliant mix of cultures and styles, from a barbecue master to a chef with a Michelin star. The banter behind some of them can get tense (especially between Venoy and Michael), but the way the show guides them to work together and learn from each other is interesting, and ultimately, most of them are an utter delight to watch. Chef Frances Tariga, who may be known for appearing in some other cooking competition shows, makes the biggest splash here; one can imagine her hosting an Anthony Bourdain-style show or having a documentary made about her life.

But it’s Chef Morimoto who reigns here, of course. The Iron Chef spoke with MovieWeb about cooking competition shows and Morimoto’s Sushi Master.

Chef Morimoto Unveils Himself

The man behind the gourmet Momosan and Morimoto restaurants shows a new side to himself in Sushi Master. With his excellent record on Iron Chef, people may be used to a more subdued, subtle, and focused Chef, but what they get in this new series is a surprisingly funny, buoyant, and cheerful man who nonetheless spouts simple wisdom and has a masterful eye for food. Chef Morimoto frequently catches viewers (and the contestants) off guard with his random humor and fun choices, and it’s a joy to see such an esteemed hero of the culinary community in this way.

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“What the viewers see is my real-life personality,” said Chef Morimoto. “When I would compete on Iron Chef America, I would be very focused and dealing with a lot of stress and pressure. I was able to use the fierce competition to inspire a new level of creativity with my dishes. I’m very proud to be called Iron Chef Morimoto and feel a certain responsibility when people call me that. I would like to be a good mentor for many young generations who are looking to be chefs.” He continued:

Why Watch a Cooking Competition Show?

Outside the litany of English-language personalities who have mastered hosting and presenting cooking shows (such as the brilliant Alton Brown and the popularly profane Gordon Ramsay), Chef Morimoto is perhaps the most famous and respected. He injects Sushi Master with the aforementioned joy and passion that he puts into his own cooking, and the show is genuinely contagious and bingeable as a result.

But what about that original question? Why do people watch these things?

Behind all the creativity are characters, genuine people who want to be ‘The Sushi Master,’ and most of them are worth rooting for. While the structure and format of a reality series like this one can elevate or worsen a show, it’s the actual people that can make or break it, and Morimoto’s Sushi Master did an exceptional job finding these contestants and judges. For Chef Morimoto, watching those contestants in their culinary journey is what made the show worth doing.

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“The most rewarding and fulfilling part of this show for me is witnessing the growth and transformation of the contestants,” explained the Chef. “To be able to mentor and guide them through their culinary journeys, witnessing their development, and seeing their dishes evolve is a gratifying experience for me. It’s an honor to contribute to their culinary education and inspire them to reach new heights in their craft.”

Why a Show About Sushi Is Special

So, let’s talk sushi. Can a show with ‘sushi’ in its title truly make it with Western audiences? While Morimoto’s Sushi Master goes beyond just sashimi and sushi, it is a distinctly fishy, Asian cooking show. And yet, it’s entrancing, with some brilliant creative choices from the contestants, and seems like the perfect show to accompany your takeout. Chef Morimoto has a special fondness for sushi, and it shines through in the series. He explained:

“Fish from Japan is definitely unique and special because of the way it’s caught and handled. The traditional Japanese method of fishing and processing fish is very meticulous, which helps to preserve the texture and flavor of the fish,” said Chef Morimoto. That’s partly why the Japanese sushi master and Japanese chefs in general are so great at making sushi, and so fond of it. But fear not, Western viewers! As the Chef explained, there are plenty of fish in the sea:

There are also great fish in America. It ultimately comes down to the expertise of the chefs, the sourcing practices, and the care taken in preparing the fish that determine the overall quality of the sushi experience.

It’s safe to say that the “overall quality of the sushi experience” is masterful and completely delicious in Morimoto’s Sushi Master, which is currently streaming on the Roku Channel. You can stream the series for free here.