CURRENT MISSION

Sushi chef without Borders
-国境なき寿司団-

ABOUT ME

A Japanese chef

I was born in the south of Japan, in a city called Kitakyushu.

when I was 17 years old I started backpacker and started traveling in Japan.
I was just a high school boy.
But "9.1.1 at NY " happened .
I changed whole my life plan.

At 20, I went to NY alone and I traveled to many cities of the US and some cities of Canada and Mexico.

Greyhound bus trip at North America , it was great trip.

And after 2 month trip, I found my new "home town" San Francisco.

I found my master of sushi and became Sushi chef in San francisco.
as sushi chef in San Francisco lived there for a while( almost 7years)
and started up Ramen restaurant with my friend too.

Stay, Play, meet amazing people ,Sushi chef, Hippie culture, Organic movement..etc life in California changed my self a lot.(I guess)

I still love my city SF very much.

so,
When I was my end 26 years old
I decided to leave US.
And I became a backpacker again.
I traveled London, Barcelona, Rome...

After 2month , I found a new home town on Malta in Europe... and I became a “restaurant” sushi chef again :)

*Malta is tiny island and country next of Sicily (not Italy!)

native Japanese sushi chef is great to find job anywhere in this planet . Thank you , sushi.

But When I was 27 ,

on the third of March, 2011.

we call it "3.1.1"

Big earth quake & tsunami hit Japan.

It shocked all Japanese people.

I was also very shocked about it happened and I felt like this world totally changed from that day.

yup, sometime the world is like a Novel of "Haruki Murakami"

This world sudden changed and we have to survive here.

and That's where we are living in now.

I decided to change my life-style.
my whole life plan changed again ;)

I sold almost all my belongings like furniture,books,car,clothes,shoes...
(I was surprised I had too many staff lol )

I was keep asking to myself

"What do I really need in life?

My answer was simple, "I gotta Go travel to know it"

Cleaned up my room and

I started traveling to know about "something" .

I packed my sushi tools and little else in a small bag. ...laptop and few clothes.

I try to simplify my life....and

I became a backpacker again.

When I went to USA , I brought so huge bag pack and suitcase.
But then
I left malta with a small bag.

I became "Sushi Chef without Borders"

I traveled in Asia,Europe... with my small bag and made sushi there,
in Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Laos , Hungary , Croatia, Azerbaijan, Dubai, Mexico ....

I made sushi there using local ingredients with Japanese cooking skill.
because I was always thinking ,
"Why we import ingredients from other side of planet ?(use a lot of oil then),
so, how can I innovate Japanese cuisine with local ingredients?"

and I just realized,

Locality, sustainability and respect for the food and producers.

That is what I really care.

Local, Organic, Seasonable good food...

Yup, I'm Japanese/Californian chef pretty much.

I found my way, what I really wanted to cook.

After that

I went many cities to meet creaters who has traditional skill to make Japanese food's ingredients . (like Katsuo-bushi , Bin-chou-tan) and I learned from them.
I also work with them together.(Making Katsuobushi In Makurazaki , Kagoshima for 3 month)
I was impressed ....The way to create, sprit, skill and their philosophy.

It was a great experience!

and many many story I can't write here too ;p (ask direct to me)

then I
still keep traveling - working - until now.

[UPDATE] on september 2016 ,
I moved to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye,Belize .
I'll start new Japanese restaurant here in beautiful Caribbean island.

JYOTO Japanese restaurant
Use local ingredients, make authentic sushi and Japanese food
I’m only Japanese in this beautiful Island and it’s first authentic Japanese restaurant in the country

Ramen 501
Ramen shop at San Pedro downtown
Use all local ingredients, fresh house made noodles & soup.

Sky sushi bar
San Ignacio branch, inside CAHALPECH resort.
Jungle , sunset and sushi bar experience

Dec 2023:
Opened my new sushi bar in
Placencia, Belize and mostly living here
(Or another branch in San Pedro or San Ignacio)

[UPDATE]
I was out of couchsurfing almost 5 years
And Back to Couchsurfing world !
Now
I’m living in Belize 3 town (3 restaurants) and keep moving on with my cat tamago 🐈
Follow my cat instagram @sushicatbelize and you will know where I am now !!

Life is travel, Traveling means to live!

Hope to see you someday

Bon appétit &Cheers!

Toshi

[urgent only]
Contact me via Instagram: toshiyabelize
Or
Whatsapp +501-608-8024

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

ask me!

Interests

Cooking, Traveling, Art,Anthropology....and connect all !!

• arts
• culture
• books
• dining
• cooking
• japanese food
• drinking
• clothing
• reading
• traveling
• backpacking
• anthropology

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Living life !

Teach, Learn, Share

"You have a choice, to be a Traveler or Furniture "

by toshiya tsujimoto

Countries I’ve Visited

Azerbaijan, Belize, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Azerbaijan, Belize, England, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Laos, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Spain, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States