The founder of Sushi Aoki, Yoshi Aoki (the father of the current chef), trained at the famous traditional sushi restaurant Nakata in Tokyo’s fashionable Ginza district, and in 1972 opened his own restaurant in the Kiyamachi neighborhood of Kyoto, naming it “Nakata” after his master’s restaurant.

That was the start of the our story. In 1986 Yoshi Aoki returned to Tokyo and opened a restaurant in the Kojimachi area, this time renaming it “Sushi Aoki.”

At that time, his son Toshikatsu Aoki had graduated from Nippon Sport Science University and was studying abroad in America. Upon returning to Japan he began his apprenticeship at the highly-regarded Yoshino sushi restaurant in Kyobashi, not far from Ginza in Tokyo.

In 1992, Sushi Aoki moved to its present location in Ginza on Nishi-gobangai Street (sometimes called “West Fifth Avenue”).

Just one year after fulfilling his dream of having his own sushi counter in Ginza, Yoshi Aoki passed away suddenly, and Toshikatsu at age 29 took over operation of the restaurant.

From 2007 to 2019, Toshikatsu opened a second location in the Nishi-azabu/Roppongi neighborhood of Tokyo, where he trained many apprentices, many of whom went on to open their own restaurants. In 2016, on the 45th anniversary of Yoshi Aoki’s first restaurant, the name Sushi Aoki was changed to Ginza Sushi Aoki to show pride in its roots in Ginza.

In July 2020, Toshikatsu opened Hanare just near Ginza Sushi Aoki, where he has been serving exclusive courses made with ideal flows of sushi with other Japanese dishes, only to special guests, and just for eight counter seats.

And now, in the summer of 2022, Ginza Sushi Aoki celebrates its 50th anniversary. We have decided to combine Ginza Sushi Aoki and Hanare at the Hanare location, to add new phase to our long history.

At a time when the number of young people in Japan looking to inherit our traditional cuisine, including sushi, seems to be dwindling, chefs like Toshikatsu Aoki are working to raise its presence on the world stage and are dedicated to training apprentices. To keep doing so, Ginza Sushi Aoki will humbly work hard, dedicating ourselves to contribute to the great reputation around the world of Ginza’s sushi.