The Sushi Man
Newton, MA
2023, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Climate Hero: Mana Hayashida
The journey began with a fisherman.
A black pawn clutched in a bigger hand,
Floating in the sea and put in the cardboard box at three
Stamped with a black logo, the box arrived quickly
Wasabi floats in the obsidian sea,
Reflective like glass, the ripples break fast,
Parting as it flows, slowly as is free
little particles of green,
Come flow into the soy sauce sea
Mahogany notes that glide with ease,
Down slippery slopes, like a tongue tease.
Smooth like su (す) and loopy like shi (し),
The sushi bar man exclaims Oshii!
But beneath the surface, a hidden plot,
The sushi man never gave it a thought.
Behind the scenes of the countertop,
a tragic fate to come to a stop
Glistening knife and a shimmering life, the sushi man holds the knife,
But he does not deliver the kill,
It is the companies who bring the true death pill,
Mitsubishi, CNFC, and Dongwon too
These companies held the noose to wreck the blue
Destroyers of the sea, what a catastrophe.
Crisscrossing webs and spinning gears,
The ocean, a web that used to run 24/7 a year,
And on the pier, a man watched every year,
With affection and devotion that could never disappear
The ocean man saw with his eyes so dear,
nature’s greatest creation, a mirror so clear
But one of those days, the ocean man saw,
The heartbreaking scene of the ocean coming to a draw,
Broken chains, a wound growing fast,
The ocean no longer worked like its past,
The black pawn cast a shadow so black,
But he was just a needle in a haystack,
It wasn’t his fault; the ocean man knew
The company man’s iron grip tightened like a screw,
Choking life, suffocating the air,
The company man drained the beauty and stripped it bare.
Sooner or later, the systems failed,
The chains of the sea unraveled and unveiled,
To savor their greed, they unleashed a wish,
One by one, they plucked the fish,
“Fishing Down Marine Food Webs”
The ocean man noticed the dangerous footsteps
With outstretched hands, the ocean man gathers delicate threads,
Knitting back the unraveled strings of the food chains grace,
Faith in his promise, restoring waves
The ocean man envisions ripples like the soy sauce tides.
With his eyes so dear, he saw a path so clear,
Sustainable fishing, not to fear
Preserve and improve, not eliminate all
For he knew the importance of fishing to all
The centuries-old practice he sought to amend,
“Catch Reconstruction” method, a new trend to extend,
Rebuilding the past, with new policy finds,
Charting a course for sustainable binds.
The Ocean man met the company man at dawn,
To untighten the iron grip on the black pawns
Sustainable fisheries and better management,
The ocean man is a guiding light to the ignorant
Harnessing the wind and throwing a lead,
The ocean man puts a leash on the fishing king’s head,
The company men restrained and accountable,
Their grip diminished and uncomfortable.
Balance and equality, the ocean man tries,
He who waits every day on the shorelines,
A promise to us and the world under the sea,
To restore its past glory and set it free
The ocean man says with a passionate plea
Come join me and heal our soy sauce sea.
Reflection
My exploration of Japanese culture and my role at a local sushi restaurant shaped the essence of my poem. For many like me, connecting with our cultural heritage is a rarity, apart from the comfort of our homes. However, the sushi restaurant has played an influential role in shaping my identity and providing opportunities to connect with my Japanese culture. My love for sushi and my Japanese roots led me to research a climate issue closely intertwined with it: overfishing. My poem traces the journey of a fish, from the vast ocean to a sushi shop. It captures the contrast between the allure of the culinary delight and the hidden story of overfishing, its devastating consequences lurking beneath the surface. But amidst this dark turn, hope emerges with the introduction of Dr. Pauly, referred to as the "ocean man." The rest of the poem focuses on his dedication and work to become inspiration for others and offer solutions to overfishing. Initially, I approached this topic with trepidation, fearing a call to entirely eliminate fish consumption, which would clash with my cultural traditions. Yet, in my research, I discovered Daniel Pauly, whose stance struck the perfect balance. Rather than advocating for a complete halt to fishing, he argued the cause of sustainable fishing. His realistic and moderate solution resonated deeply. This moderation extends beyond the realm of overfishing and climate change, applying to the world at large. It is crucial to embrace a neutral stance, avoiding extreme polarization, which risks stigmatizing an important movement. It highlights the coexistence between our love for seafood (a big part of Japanese cuisine) and the preservation of our oceans. Interestingly, the sushi restaurant where I work is named "Sushi Man," a deliberate incorporation of its significance in my journey. It serves as a constant reminder of the importance of my cultural heritage and the role I play in honoring it. Through my poetic expression and personal growth, I strive to celebrate the intricate connection between my love for sushi, my Japanese heritage, and the urgent need for sustainable practices, highlighting the ability to mend the issue despite my love for seafood.