International Relationships and a Restaurant

 Once, I needed to entertain a business partner. I invited her to a restaurant.

 Inviting an important person to a restaurant is not easy. An expensive, high-class restaurant is not necessarily the best option. The important person would worry about me, so it would not be a smart move.

 I want her to think, “Oh! I didn’t know there was such a restaurant here. It is clean, stylish, and reasonable. I want to come here again with my family or friends. Kudos Shujiro! He must know many good restaurants. I want to have a meal with him again!” This is my goal when inviting someone to a restaurant.

 I knew the best Chinese restaurant in my town. It was little more expensive than other Chinese restaurants, but still acceptable. It was also stylish and delicious. In the restaurant, they displayed the Chinese chef’s photo and testimonials. He had won many chef competitions.

 I proudly invited my business partner to the restaurant. But it had changed a lot.

 The restaurant still had the same name. It was located in the same place. Even the phone number was the same. But the interior decoration had changed. There had been a photo taken in Shanghai, but instead of that, they now displayed traditional Japanese pictures. The staff had all changed. The menu had completely changed. Most importantly, the taste had changed. I could cook better! What had happened to the restaurant!

 At that time, the relationship between Japan and China was really not good because of issues over some islands.

 This is my guess as to what had happened. The chef had left the restaurant because Japan was difficult to live in for a Chinese at that time. There was no photo of him nor testimonials to him in the restaurant. If the chef had gone, they couldn’t cook the same way. I think he left Japan. A good chef can work all around the world.

 I had invited my business partner to the wrong restaurant. However, as a result, the dinner was almost successful. My business partner said, “This is delicious!” But I knew she was lying to me. It was not delicious. I knew it. She was being diplomatic, as I was also an important business partner to her.

 I was in bed for a few days as a result of this shocking incident.

 I have a good relationship with that business partner even now. Our business is succeeding.

 But sometimes I worry she might think I have a unique sense of taste.

 Some people say the relationship between Japan and China is now at its worst. I worry nice Chinese restaurants are silently disappearing from Japan.

 If we want delicious foods, we need to maintain good relations with all countries.

 The best way to good food is peace.

 I wish for lasting peace for good food.

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Picture by illustratorbk