Shōta no Sushi
Shōta no Sushi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Terasawa about a teen boy Shota Sekiguchi and his journey from an apprentice to become a sushi chef. It was later adapted into TV series, produced by Fuji TV. The manga series ended when Shota won the regional sushi competition in Tokyo. A sequel continued with him being the Tokyo representative in the national competition, to keep a promise for a re-match with his rival Saji Yasuto.
Plot
The family of Shota Sekiguchi owns a small sushi shop called Tomoe Sushi in Otaru, Hokkaido. Their business struggles against Sasa Sushi, a large sushi chain that dominates the market through aggressive pricing and mass production. Compounding their difficulties, Shota's mother suffers from a chronic illness, draining the family's savings and disrupting his father Genji's ability to work. When Genji is injured and unable to compete in a local sushi contest, Shota takes his place. Though he does not win, his skill impresses Seigoro Otori, owner of the renowned O Sushi in Tokyo, who offers him an apprenticeship. Recognizing that Shota needs broader experience to save their family business, Genji agrees.In Tokyo, Shota faces numerous challenges, realizing that mastering sushi requires more than just technical skill. While senior apprentices Seiji Fujita and Hidemasa Okamura) are supportive, Anto Saji bullies both Shota and fellow apprentice Shingo Obata. Seigoro observes their rivalry and organizes a three-round competition between Shota and Anto to determine who will represent O Sushi in an upcoming Tokyo contest. The first round tests their ability to prepare out-of-season sea bream. Anto steals the fish Shota's friends procure for him, forcing Shota to use an inferior substitute. Despite this, Shota wins by employing superior technique, humbling Anto. In the second round, focusing on unagi, Anto holds an advantage with a three-year-old eel sauce, while Shota improvises a sauce-free preparation. Though his dish is praised, he loses for failing to answer a critical question about serving etiquette.
For the final round, Shota chooses anchovies—a fish Anto had mockingly compared to Shingo—to encourage his demoralized friend. He defeats Anto, who, despite his loss, matures from the experience. Seigoro offers Anto a promotion, but Anto declines, choosing to train elsewhere to avoid stagnation. He vows to challenge Shota again in the future. Shota proceeds to compete in the Tokyo sushi tournament, honing his craft with each round. Meanwhile, in Otaru, Sasa Sushi intensifies its efforts to force Tomoe Sushi out of business, adding urgency to Shota's growth as a chef.