Yokosushi has been satisfying Gizzy’s appetite for sushi and Japanese cuisine for almost 20 years, becoming a friendly and bustling institution along the way. Yoko, who has a taste for learning and evolving, recently took her staff to Japan. This unforgettable experience left a lasting impression on them all. But you’ll likely notice the ripples from this trip too, if you know what you’re looking for. Maria Elisa recently sat down with Yoko and her daughter Jessica, and two staff members Kyall and Anushka, to learn more about the trip and how it has changed them and their roles at one of Gizzy’s most popular restaurants.
Yoko's journey in New Zealand began when she was twenty-six years old, on a working holiday visa. She started in Christchurch and eventually met her husband and had their first daughter, Jessica. At that time, she was working in a souvenir shop, while her husband worked in forestry with dreams of running his own business. In 2000, Yoko’s husband proposed relocating to Gisborne in 2000, while she was pregnant with their second daughter. Lucky for us and our taste buds!
After several years helping with her husband’s business, her youngest daughter started school, and Yoko found herself working with food for the first time. After a year, they decided it was time to open their own place. In 2006, Yoko started a takeaway sushi shop. Recognizing the lack of a Japanese restaurant in town, they expanded to a full-fledged Japanese restaurant in 2007. But tough economic times drove a move back to takeaway 2008 and the shop's current format.
When asked if she loves what she does, Yoko quickly responds with a "Yes! This shop is
my baby." Her daughter Jessica acknowledges her passion and energy for the business,
jokingly referring to the shop as her mother's “third and spoiled baby."
Yoko's warmth and hospitality skills have contributed to the success of her business. And the staff would come to see the origins of these traits throughout their travels in Japan. Despite Yoko’s lack of a formal hospitality background, she attributes some of her success to a stroke of luck when students attending the R&V concert in town in 2006 requested a dish, inspiring her to create a new item for her menu: Teriyaki chicken avocado. It became a hit. Yoko's ability to listen to her customers' feedback and adapt her offerings has been a key factor in the restaurant's success.
Despite facing challenging times, like 2007’s earthquake and the more recent closures due to the pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle, she feels it was all worth it, and she is pleased - almost
overwhelmed - to be where they are now. She believes she has the strongest team in eighteen years.
Their staff trip to Japan in May, to experience cuisine and culture, has been years in the making. Beginning in 2019, the trip was initially canceled due to the pandemic. After the lockdown, they
started planning their visit to Japan again. However, Cyclone Gabrielle struck, causing another closure for a couple of weeks. Despite these setbacks, they persevered, and Yoko eventually made her dream of taking the entire staff to Japan a reality.
The itinerary in Japan for the ten staff and Yoko included cooking lessons, visits to observe Japanese hospitality, and sightseeing. After the trip, she asked the staff to convey what they learned about their time in Japan. The majority mentioned feeling the care and kindness with which they were treated everywhere.
For Kyall Parsons, supervisor, the trip was everything he hoped for and more. “The food was completely different but very good, and everywhere we went, the service was perfect. As a foreigner, I felt welcomed everywhere.” This is part of what he and his co-workers have mindfully adopted at Yokosushi, a kind and friendly greeting that is tradition in Japan when you walk into a restaurant. The customer service was top notch everywhere they went, from big to small restaurants. And Kyall noticed the careful attention to detail; what they saw in the menu’s picture was exactly what was made for them.
Anushka, who last October joined Yokosushi as a sushi maker, was not much into fish before this trip, so traveling in Japan was an opportunity for her to try authentic Japanese fish. To her surprise, she discovered that she liked the traditional way the Japanese prepared fish.
Another new customer experience for Anushka was the care and attention that made their purchases and meals feel more than mere transactions. After buying something in a store, the salesperson would hold their bags and walk them to the door to send them off with a friendly goodbye, thanking them for visiting their store. Anushka loved her experience so much that she’s already planned to go back with a friend next year.
Although food was an important part of their trip, the Yokosushi staff enjoyed Japan in other ways. In addition to getting to know the food and the customs of Japan, getting to know more about the anime world and shopping were probably Kyall’s favourite parts. Anushka was surprised by the natural beauty of Japan's countryside. "There was just so much to see, do and take in... I loved going to the temples and seeing their old architecture."
When I asked Kyall if he had been inspired to create a new dish after his Japan experience, he said that he did, as did the whole staff. Their ideas were similar. We can expect new burgers and sandwiches to enter their menu soon. They are embracing the Japanese cuisine they experienced and adapting them to Gizzy's tastes. Keep an eye on their Instagram (@yokos_ushi) and Facebook (@YokoSushiGisborne) for new menu items and updates.
When I asked what they would remember most from their trip to Japan, both answered that it was the people and their super friendly culture. "They looked like they were happy at their jobs," Anushka said, and we all laughed. And now that we think about it, that’s the vibe at Yokosushi, where you’ll get a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine and genuine hospitality.
Yokosushi is located at 87 Grey St, and open Mon – Fri 8am – 4pm, Sat 9am – 3pm
Photos supplied by Yokosushi