Restaurant ratings aren’t fishy

Re “California rolls drive them to distraction,” Dec. 2

The stamp of authenticity by the Japanese government on Japanese restaurants here is welcome for those who are trying to find restaurants with properly trained chefs. What I hope the panel will focus on is food safety. Japan requires all chefs to be licensed, so a safe dining experience is almost guaranteed, but I have seen questionable food handling at Japanese restaurants here. As the article mentions, Japan has its share of fusion food, so officials know that the grading cannot be based on what’s truly Japanese. I grew up in Tokyo with edomae (traditional Tokyo-style) sushi but also very much enjoy spicy tuna rolls, which is an American invention. If the program makes the intent clear and focuses more on proper training, it can be a better guide than the Zagat.

AYUMU TOKIWA

Yorba Linda