Sakura Sushi and Grill

“Sakura Sakura,” also known as “Sakura,” is a traditional Japanese folk song depicting spring, the season of cherry blossom. Contrary to popular belief, the song did not originate from ancient times, not from the Heian period or prior. It was first composed during the Edo period for children learning to play the koto. Originally, the lyrics “Blooming cherry blossoms” were attached to the melody. The song has been popular since the Meiji period, and the lyrics in their present form were attached then. It is often sung in international settings as a song representative of Japan.

“Sakura” appears in Giocomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly, in oboe and strings while Butterfly shows Pinkerton her meager but treasured possessions. You surely have heard this song before; “Sakura” is possibly the most popular Japanese song worldwide. The song is often performed as a solo koto piece. You can listen to its haunting strains at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keF-KYKKYeI

It would be unfair to compare the restaurant with the spectacular cherry blossoms or the song. The restaurant is quite beautiful, the servers are charming and efficient, and the food is just short of being spectacular.

Having been subjected to some dreadful examples of this style of food preparation, I am not a sushi fan. Our dinner last night takes a giant step towards converting me. I joined with seventeen friends for a specially prepared feast for which the chefs knocked themselves out. We started with a simple salad and a bowl of miso; both were very good.

This was followed by a gorgeous plate filled with tuna, salmon, shrimp, rice rolls, eel, krab, and much more. Each morsel was delectable (especially the tuna and eel) and as fresh as if they were just plucked from the sea. Like Wow!

If you are a sushi fan, you need to try Sakura Sushi and Grill, If you are not yet a sushi fan, this place just might win you over. Did me.

And visions of Cio-Cio San floated before me. Sweet.