Tokyo: When the striking image of The Dance by Henri Matisse was unveiled, I could hardly contain my excitement. Two kilograms of rice and 10 painstaking hours went into the piece, and all I could think was, “How?” Tama-chan, an illustrator turned sushi artist, has been practicing her craft for 15 years. Without any specific goal or endpoint, she works freely and creates as she desires. Sometimes her pieces express a meaningful message or support a cause she’s passionate about; other times, they simply reflect something she loves. At the heart of her practice is a profound love for her culture and heritage, and for Tama-chan, sushi plays an important and meaningful role in expressing that connection.

We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to smooth jazz and discussing rice and nori. Being surrounded by food art naturally made us hungry, so we gathered at the kitchen counter for popsicles and Japanese confectionery. We laughed about how, just a week ago, we were complete strangers to each other. It felt almost like the universe—or maybe just some cosmic luck—decided we needed to be here together, sharing laughs and dessert for dinner. As I prepared to leave, Tama-chan generously sent me off with Matisse-inspired cut-out sushi she had made earlier in the day. She reminded me that her work isn’t meant to be permanent or merely admired; it is to be shared, thoroughly enjoyed, and my absolute favourite part—eaten.

Artist Instagram. @smilingsushiroll39
Hosted by Tomoko @atelier_mano_a_mano