Yasui Hiroshi, the fourth-generation owner of Yahata Sushi, was born in January 1934.

That means he is an incredible 90 years old.

The other day, we celebrated the fourth-generation owner's birthday at Yahata Sushi.

As it was such a major milestone birthday, we gave a great deal of thought to doing something special. In the end, though, we realized that there was no place he loved more than Yahata Sushi, so we invited him and his wife to sit at the counter that day.

Although they have worked behind the counter for many years, they almost never have the opportunity to enjoy sushi as guests on the other side.

So this must have been a special occasion for him as well.

We began with a toast of Aizu Chujo, Yahata Sushi’s top recommendation among sake.

As he prefers warmed sake to chilled sake, we toasted with it served slightly hot.

Following a three-item appetizer platter, we had them enjoy dishes such as crab packed with meat and sautéed shirako, plump and full.

Then, for the sushi they had been waiting for, we went with the fifth-generation owner's omakase selection.

Taking his age into consideration, we made the rice portions a little smaller.

He tends to dip his sushi generously in soy sauce, but with his health in mind, we served it brushed lightly with salt or ponzu-style vinegar soy sauce.

The sushi one makes oneself is delicious too, but sushi made by someone else somehow tastes even better.

He happily ate all 12 pieces.

And of course, we finished with a kappamaki cucumber roll.

Ending the meal with kappamaki—the roll he himself devised more than 70 years ago—seems especially fitting.

Only after everything was over did we realize: he is 90 years old, isn’t he?

Even with the smaller rice portions, he ate quite a substantial amount when the dishes were included.

He has always been the biggest eater at Yahata Sushi, and that has not changed.

At this rate, reaching 100 should be no problem at all.

Please continue to stay healthy and well by keeping up your daily push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.

Congratulations on your 90th birthday.