Located in Tsukiji, Nazuki is a seafood restaurant that delivers a multi-sensory experience with the use of its new projection mapping technology. Nazuki combines tradition with tech, serving up elegant seafood dishes while entertaining patrons with interactive digital art displays.
Nazuki seafood restaurant, Tsukiji
Since its opening in 2019, Nazuki stands out amongst the wealth of sushi restaurants in the Tsukiji area due to its innovative use of technology. Nazuki brands itself as a “Japanese Entertainment Restaurant” - its main hall fitted with 200 touch-sensitive monitor screens to give customers a 360-degree experience. Making use of cutting-edge projection mapping technology, the restaurant itself is almost a mini art exhibition - much like the famed teamLab.
Interactive digital art displays
Even before entering the premises, the area leading downstairs is spectacularly lit up and meant to resemble the descent into the mythical Ryugu Castle from the ocean's surface. At the door, friendly English-speaking staff Ege-san greeted us and proceeded to show us around the 150-seater restaurant. The surrounding screens display an underwater scene with diverse marine life, with matching illuminations projected onto the tables and even the floor.
Touching the screen spawns colorful flower petals that attract schools of fish, and surprisingly, a large shark. The shark rams into the screen multiple times, eventually “shattering” it. Although amusingly different from the calm atmosphere of the restaurant, the shark attack display adds an element of surprise to the meal. Ege-san notes that children especially love playing with the screens, as well as activating the water ripple light effects when walking across the main hall floor.
'Princess Kaguya' & 'Crane’s Gratitude': Folklore-themed course meals
In January 2020, Nazuki continued to upgrade the customer experience with the introduction of its two folklore-themed course meals. Based on the Japanese folk tales of ‘The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Princess Kaguya’ and ‘The Crane of Gratitude’, the 5-course meals are accompanied by beautifully-drawn animations projected onto the walls.
To make the most of your experience, book a table in a private room to enjoy the projections. Both Japanese and Western-style private rooms are available, with the Western-style rooms able to accommodate a maximum of 50 people (without dividers). Each meal in the course is meticulously designed to pair with the projection clip that’s played before the dish is served. Customers can learn more about the folk stories from the illustrated picture book menu that they can bring home, with explanations provided in both English and Japanese.
The food: Highlights
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Princess Kaguya)
The course starts with the origin story of Princess Kaguya, a baby mysteriously found inside of a bamboo shoot.
Fittingly, the first dish is designed around the bamboo trees from her origin. The appetizer course includes the daily specials of sashimi, bamboo shoots, and seasonal vegetables. Adorned with a mini Princess Kaguya figurine, the meal was as tasty as it was photogenic.
The highlight of the Princess Kaguya course was definitely the Akaza Shrimp dish. Nazuki orders the shrimp especially for this dish, so those who want to try the Kaguya set should call to reserve in advance (same-day reservations are accepted). Delicately arranged to symbolize the growing up of a young Princess Kaguya, the steamed Akaza shrimp is surrounded by tiny, crispy prawns while sitting on a bed of homemade sakura shrimp sauce.
Five represents the number of princes who tried to ask for Princess Kaguya’s hand in marriage. Thus, five types of cooking and five types of tastes were incorporated into the course’s grilled dish. Although Nazuki specializes in seafood, the roast Wagyu beef was also one of the stars of the show.
The Crane of Gratitude
For the adventurous foodie, try the Crane of Gratitude course to get a rare taste of Fugu (pufferfish) sashimi. The thinly sliced pieces of fugu are meticulously arranged to form the shape of a Japanese crane. Due to the level of skill needed to prepare the fugu, only the most qualified chefs are allowed to serve this delicacy. Paired with ponzu dipping sauce, the fugu was refreshing and succulent.
In the original story, the crane uses its own feathers to weave luxurious blankets for the elderly couple to sell. The intricacy of the blanket is portrayed via a colorful vegetable terrine, plated alongside roast Wagyu beef and a flying crane carved out of a leaf.
Both course meals end the story with a dessert platter, consisting of seasonal fruits, ice cream, and mini cakes. Same-day reservations are accepted for either course.
The course meals are 7,800 yen each, including tax. Nazuki also has a wide selection of drinks, alcohol, and wine available to order or served as part of their all-you-can-drink 2-hour course meal (9,800 yen). Aside from their folklore-themed courses, the restaurant also serves ala carte dishes and fresh seafood meals for lunch and dinner.
Nazuki appeals to the tastes of both seafood and meat-lovers, making it the perfect place to bring your family or friends for an exquisite meal and an unforgettable experience.
