Tokyo — The Umami Capsule: UNI (2021)
In 2021, I directed and co-produced The Umami Capsule: UNI, a short food documentary tracing the journey of sea urchin from ocean to plate.
The film begins in the coastal waters of Amakusa, Kumamoto, where local divers harvest uni with patience and care. The story then follows chefs in Fukuoka, who take inspiration from this delicacy to create dishes rooted in both regional tradition and personal expression.
Through close-up textures and quiet observation, the film explores not only the craft behind uni-based cuisine, but also a deeper question: how does flavor travel—linking memory, identity, and place?
Awards and Press
The film received the Bronze Award at the 4th annual Meihodo International Youth Visual Media Festival, and was later featured in media coverage that highlighted the cultural significance of food storytelling and cross-regional collaboration.
----The Film Experience
----PR newswire
he Umami Capsule: UNI (19mins, 2021)
Director | Editor
Logline
A sensory exploration of how one ingredient connects people, regions, and traditions.