Sushi restaurant Sushi Tomohiro (1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo) will open in Ikebukuro on March 21.

　The restaurant is owned and operated by Fumihiro Hirai, who started his career as an independent chef at Sushi Yamato, a sushi restaurant in Osaka. The menu features a two-hour course (4,400 yen, drinks not included) that requires reservations.

　The 15-course menu includes “today’s fresh fish carpaccio with sake jus,” nigiri, steamed rice in a bowl, a seasonal dish, all-you-can-eat “Dragon’s Palace Ramen” using soup stock made from seafood ara, which is changed daily, and dessert.

　The nigiri includes “yellowtail nigiri” using “Buri Taisho,” a brand of farmed yellowtail from Kagoshima Prefecture, “conger eel nigiri” with a sweetened sauce, and “kohada nigiri” made using the vinegared method of Edo-mae-zushi sushi.

　Mr. Hirai says, “Our motto is ‘authentic sushi served in a friendly manner. Rather than having people eat in a formal manner, we want them to enjoy sushi while having a lively conversation. As a former comedian and former idol, I want people to first enjoy the conversation and the space, and then, once in a while, ask for advice about their problems or share their favorite things, so that the restaurant becomes a place where the words ‘maido’ and ‘tadaima’ can be heard.

　Business hours are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for the first part and from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. for the second part.