Have you always dreamed of being a world class Japanese sushi chef, but are stuck here in the United States? Well you now have another authentic option.

Noritoshi Kanai, president of Mutual Trading Co., and Katsuya Uechi, owner of Katsuya restaurants, have joined forces to create the Sushi Institute of America (SIA). Both are stars in the Japanese culinary scene, and Kanai is know for bringing Edomae sushi to Los Angeles in the 1960s.

The Sushi Institute of America’s main goal is to let future chefs learn the traditional art os sushi and Japanese food preperation. Kanai says,

It is our hope to pass on to the next generation of aspiring chefs the true form of culinary art and philosophy that Japanese sushi imported. Our vision is that sushi’s great culinary tradition may reach all over the world for people to enjoy through the skilled hands of our future graduating chefs.

One problem the Sushi Institute of America hopes to address is the growing trend of Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles to only be Japanese in name, and not what they serve. By training skilled chefs in Japanese cuisine, the quality and authenticy of Japanese restaurants employing these new graduates will be on a much higher level.

Basic courses that cover rice handleing and knife training start in September, the advance courses start in November. Head over to the Sushi Institue of America for more information.

Via Japan Times.