The founder of the Fuji restaurant died at his residence in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria at the age of 86
Toshihiko Satothe founder of the first Japanese restaurant in Spain, died this Friday at his residence in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, at the age of 86.
Better known in the capital of Gran Canaria as Mr. Sato arrived at Gran Canaria at the age of 25 and opened the popular Fuji restaurant, in 1967.
The story of Toshihiko Sato, born in Miyagi, Japan, in 1942, is a fascinating story of a man who crossed half the world in search of his passion and became a pioneer of Japanese gastronomy in Spain. His journey took him from the port of Antwerp to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he opened the country’s first Japanese restaurant in 1967.
Service for the Japanese fleet
Sato’s love for ornithology accompanied him during his journey, imagining exotic birds among tropical palm trees on the way to his unknown destination. However, his first impression upon arriving in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria did not meet his expectations, as he pointed out on more than one occasion since he imagined Gran Canaria as “the tropical islands of the movies.”
In 1960, the Port of Las Palmas was an important commercial center that served as a mandatory stop for the Japanese fishing fleet. Mr. Sato settled in the capital of Gran Canaria, without knowing that it would become his permanent home and that it would mark the beginning of a unique culinary career.
When the Fuji restaurant, located at 56 Fernando Guanarteme Street, opened its doors, Mr. Sato did not know at that time that he was opening the first Japanese restaurant in Spain. It attracted mainly Scandinavian tourists and Japanese navy crewmen, as well as other resident Asians.
The first years were challenging, since the local culinary culture did not include raw foods such as sushi. However, the abundance of fresh fish on the island helped the restaurant gain acceptance. Mr. Sato devised an ingenious plan to attract customers: if the dining room was empty, he would go out to look for customers in the port, where the Japanese tuna boats were waiting. He would prepare bento boxes ready to serve before the ships docked at the port, which became a success.
Mr. Sato He hung up his apron in 2007 and transmitted to Miguel Martínez, its historic head chef, the original spirit of the house, which in 2022 opened its new location on Pedro Castillo Westerling Street, number 20 in the capital of Gran Canaria.