Shokunin: How Striving for Perfection Can Help You Live a Better Life
Lessons from the world-renowned sushi chef, Jiro Ono.
Have you ever wondered what makes “great” sushi? Perhaps.
According to Merriam-Webster, sushi is “Cold rice dressed with vinegar, formed into any of various shapes, and garnished especially with bits of raw seafood or vegetables” But that’s nowhere near Jiro Ono’s definition. I’ll let you know what that is later on. For now, let me introduce Jiro.
Jiro Ono is a 95-year old master sushi chef. In the mouthwatering documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, we get an inside look at his three-Michelin starred restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, his passion for his work, and why he is regarded as a shokunin.
In Japan, a shokunin is a person who has devoted his life to his profession and has reached a rare level of expertise. The shokunin’s secret?
The endless pursuit of perfection.
In this story, I’ll flesh out the concept, explain the wonders of perfectionism, and share how you can follow the way of the shokunin.
What is Shokunin?
In English, the word loosely translates to ‘craftsman’ or ‘artisan’. But as this oft-quoted definition says, “such a literal description does…
