Noritoshi Kanai (金井紀年,[1] カナイ・ノリトシ) (February 25, 1923 – April 22, 2017) was a Japanese-born executive of the Los Angeles branch of the food importer, Mutual Trading Company. He has been credited with the idea of opening the first authentic sushi bar in the United States during the 1960s.[2]
Credited with the idea of opening the first authentic sushi bar in the United States
Life and workEdit
Kanai was born February 25, 1923, in Ochiai Village, Toyotama County, Tokyo. He graduated from the Tokyo College of Commerce (today's Hitotsubashi University).[3][4]
In 1951, Kanai joined Tokyo Mutual Trading Co., an affiliate to Mutual Trading Co., Inc., a Los Angeles-based company started by Sadagoro Hoshizaki, a merchant in Little Tokyo in 1926. This was a company to bring in Japanese foodstuff as a co-op operation from Japan.[5][6]
In 1964, Kanai permanently relocated to Los Angeles with his family to manage Mutual Trading Co., Inc. Kanai is credited with promoting the idea of opening a sushi counter on the premises of the Kawafuku restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.[7] This restaurant is said to be the first authentic "sushi bar" in the United States, with a trained sushi chef from Japan.[8][5] Some sources agree that Kawafuku was the first American sushi bar, but merely acknowledge Mutual Trading as being the purveyor of sushi ingredients to the restaurant.[9]
Kanai was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (kyokujitsu shōjushō) in Autumn 2009, recognized for his contributions in establishing the overseas voting system (在外投票, zaigai tōhyō) for Japanese living outside their country, and for promoting Japanese food culture in the United States.[1][5]
Noritoshi Kanai died at aged 94 on April 22, 2017.
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
Citations
^ abNagata, Jun (永田潤) (December 7, 2009). "南加在住の叙勲受章者４人：伝達式で更なる貢献誓う" [4 Southern-Cal residents recipients of medals: pledge further contributions at award ceremony]. Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
^"Obituary: Noritoshi Kanai, 94; Chairman of Mutual Trading Co". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
^Kanai, Noritoshi N. "United States Public Records, 1970-2009". FamilySearch. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
^"YuYu interview Noritoshi Kanai". April 30, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
^Miller, Daniel (May 3, 2023). "How two friends sparked L.A.'s sushi obsession — and changed the way America eats". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
^Al-Jamie, Anthony (May 15, 2013). "The Man who brought Sushi to America". Retrieved March 14, 2017.
Issenberg, Sasha (2007). The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy. Penguin. ISBN9781592402946.
August 28, 2023
noritoshi, kanai, 金井紀年, カナイ, ノリトシ, february, 1923, april, 2017, japanese, born, executive, angeles, branch, food, importer, mutual, trading, company, been, credited, with, idea, opening, first, authentic, sushi, united, states, during, 1960s, born, 1923, febru. Noritoshi Kanai 金井紀年 1 カナイ ノリトシ February 25 1923 April 22 2017 was a Japanese born executive of the Los Angeles branch of the food importer Mutual Trading Company He has been credited with the idea of opening the first authentic sushi bar in the United States during the 1960s 2 Noritoshi KanaiBorn 1923 02 25 February 25 1923 Ochiai Village Toyotama County TokyoDiedApril 22 2017 2017 04 22 aged 94 NationalityJapaneseOccupationExecutiveKnown forCredited with the idea of opening the first authentic sushi bar in the United StatesLife and work EditKanai was born February 25 1923 in Ochiai Village Toyotama County Tokyo He graduated from the Tokyo College of Commerce today s Hitotsubashi University 3 4 In 1951 Kanai joined Tokyo Mutual Trading Co an affiliate to Mutual Trading Co Inc a Los Angeles based company started by Sadagoro Hoshizaki a merchant in Little Tokyo in 1926 This was a company to bring in Japanese foodstuff as a co op operation from Japan 5 6 In 1964 Kanai permanently relocated to Los Angeles with his family to manage Mutual Trading Co Inc Kanai is credited with promoting the idea of opening a sushi counter on the premises of the Kawafuku restaurant in Little Tokyo Los Angeles 7 This restaurant is said to be the first authentic sushi bar in the United States with a trained sushi chef from Japan 8 5 Some sources agree that Kawafuku was the first American sushi bar but merely acknowledge Mutual Trading as being the purveyor of sushi ingredients to the restaurant 9 Kanai was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun Gold Rays with Rosette kyokujitsu shōjushō in Autumn 2009 recognized for his contributions in establishing the overseas voting system 在外投票 zaigai tōhyō for Japanese living outside their country and for promoting Japanese food culture in the United States 1 5 Noritoshi Kanai died at aged 94 on April 22 2017 Notes EditReferences EditCitations a b Nagata Jun 永田潤 December 7 2009 南加在住の叙勲受章者４人 伝達式で更なる貢献誓う 4 Southern Cal residents recipients of medals pledge further contributions at award ceremony Rafu Shimpo Retrieved March 14 2017 Obituary Noritoshi Kanai 94 Chairman of Mutual Trading Co Rafu Shimpo Retrieved July 7 2017 Kanai Noritoshi N United States Public Records 1970 2009 FamilySearch Retrieved July 25 2014 YuYu interview Noritoshi Kanai April 30 2007 Retrieved March 14 2017 a b c Corson 2008 pp 45 47 295 Issenberg 2007 pp 85 90 Miller Daniel May 3 2023 How two friends sparked L A s sushi obsession and changed the way America eats Los Angeles Times Retrieved May 4 2023 Al Jamie Anthony May 15 2013 The Man who brought Sushi to America Retrieved March 14 2017 Issenberg 2007 p 88 BibliographyCorson Trevor 2008 The Story of Sushi An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice Harper Perennial ISBN 978 0060883515 Issenberg Sasha 2007 The Sushi Economy Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy Penguin ISBN 9781592402946 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Noritoshi Kanai amp oldid 1156448941, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
