Rick Stein on another show had tried to make mackerel sushi, and the Japanese ambassador was not impressed with his efforts, so he invited Rick to learn more about Japanese food.
Rick visits Japan for a week, and accompanied by a woman interpreter called Taka, he visits fish markets and finds out a bit about Japanese ingredients.
Rick tends to hyperbole, and this contains a few silly bits such as Rick telling us that the man cutting tuna reminds him of a samurai film by Akira Kurosawa. I suppose he thinks this makes for a more interesting TV show.
The second half of the show consists of Rick cooking the meal for the ambassador, but in fact he is in the kitchen of the ambassador, and two chefs who seem to be the resident chefs of the embassy take over most of the work.
We learn a little about Japanese cooking, how to salt mackarel, how to make tempura batter, and Rick makes a dessert involving quinces, persimmons, and stewed apples, as well as a dish involving sea bass, and Japanese dish chawan mushi using crab from Cornwall.
The Japanese chefs completely outclass Rick in the sushi-making department, but Rick doesn't act up but is in awe of them.
Anyway it's a good show.
Includes a sit-down meal with Rick and ex-Prime Minister Mori, who was recently fired as head of the Tokyo Olympic committee.
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