Within Niigata Prefecture, a coastal region facing the Sea of Japan and known for its rice production, Sushi Hatakeyama is located in an entertainment district that is a 10-minute taxi ride from Niigata Station. Run by Chef Masayoshi Hatakeyama, who inherited the DNA of a renowned sushi master, the restaurant offers Niigata-mae sushi featuring local ingredients.
Born in Iwate Prefecture, Chef Hatakeyama says he has never thought of pursuing any career other than a sushi chef. This should be expected given that his father, Yoshitomo, trained under one of the apprentices of Shigezo Fujimoto, a legendary sushi master highly acclaimed in the history of sushi. After graduating from high school, Chef Hatakeyama started training at Sushizen, which was opened by his father and his partners in Sapporo, Hokkaido, and later moved to Tokyo when a branch location was opened there. Then, he further honed his skills at other sushi restaurants before opening his own restaurant. Eventually, he moved to his wife’s hometown of Niigata and opened Sushi Hatakeyama in 2017. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Yoshiharu, also runs a kappo restaurant, Yamaji, in Shimbashi, further evidence that culinary DNA is shared within the family.
The prix fixe meal consists of 8-9 pieces of sushi as well as 3-4 dishes. The sushi made by Chef Hatakeyama can be referred to as Niigata-mae sushi as it features local ingredients, such as wild prawns, northern shrimps, snow crab, horsehair crab, blowfish, and abalone. The sushi rice is made from freshly harvested Koshihikari rice from Sado, Niigata. Characterized not only by its large grain size but also by its stickiness, the rice is cooked with close attention paid to the amount of water added. The sushi rice is cooked with great care to enhance its rich flavor and seasoned with precious additive-free red vinegar that is naturally fermented. The meal ends with the chef’s specialty: inari sushi made by rolling Kanpyomaki (dried gourd shavings) around aburaage (deep-fried tofu) cooked in a gentle and elegant broth.
The sake list offers Tsuru no Tomo and Denkara from Niigata, Kintsuru from Sado, Higan from Murakami-city and the lineup of natural wine is the main product.
The interior is dignified yet comfortable, brightened up by the chef’s smile and furnished with a counter (seating up to six to seven people) and a table (with four chairs).
Please enjoy Niigata-mae sushi with your family, friends, colleagues, or sushi buddies at Sushi Hatakeyama.
*The contents of the food and nigiri vary depending on the season and purchase.
------------------------------------------------------------------
* The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
*The food and Nigiri varies depending on the season and the stock.
■Access
10 minutes by taxi from Niigata Station Bandai Exit
