Japanese Cooking and Sushi Making Classes in London | Sozai
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Sushi Master Class

22 Feb 2025 (Sat)
15:30 240 minutes
£180 per person

This ultimate full-day sushi class is your gateway to mastering the art of creating restaurant-quality sushi right in your own kitchen!

Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, you’ll learn how to make 'nikiri'—a specially blended umami soy sauce favored in Japanese restaurants—and perfect the essential sushi rice preparation, a cornerstone of exceptional sushi-making. You'll then craft gourmet sushi rolls using premium ingredients, including your own crispy, golden tempura prawns, transformed into a delectable sushi roll.

This comprehensive class will also cover the essentials of sourcing and storing authentic ingredients. Discover what to buy, where to find it—both online and offline—and how to preserve its freshness for the best results.

The raw fish used in the class is of professional-grade quality, sustainably sourced from Japanese fishmongers and reputable local suppliers. You’ll also observe a live demonstration as the instructor fillets a whole sea bream, followed by a hands-on session where you’ll learn to slice your own fish for nigiri sushi using a precision-crafted Japanese sashimi knife.

Whether you're a beginner or a sushi enthusiast, this immersive class equips you with the knowledge and techniques to create beautifully crafted sushi plates with confidence and flair.

During the class, you will make the following sushi:

1) Tempura prawn rolls
2) Spicy salmon rolls
3) Dragon rolls with avocado and prawn
3) Nigiri Salmon - torched for flavour
4) Nigiri Sea bream with truffle oil and truffle salt
5) Nigiri Scallops
6) Nigiri Tuna

Depending on the availability, fresh wasabi is used for nigiri.

The class will break for lunch with a first set of sushi you created.
2 glasses of drinks of your choice (sake, white wine, Japanese beer, soft drinks) are included.

※ Ingredients are subject to availability, it may change without prior notice.

Sushi Weekend Intermediate

Instructor

Akemi Yokoyama

(358 reviews)

Akemi Yokoyama is a highly respected Japanese food specialist, chef, presenter, writer, and educator based in London. Her deep understanding of Japanese food provenance stems from her upbringing in Hokkaido, where, under her father's guidance, she spent her childhood foraging, fishing, and developing a profound appreciation for Japan's seasonal ingredients and culinary traditions.

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As Principal of Sozai Cooking School, Akemi leads acclaimed Japanese cookery classes that have earned praise from UK national media. Her expertise has been featured on major television and radio programmes, including Channel 4's 'Sunday Brunch', CBBC's 'Saturday Mash-Up,' BBC Radio 4's 'Front Row,' and Channel 5's 'Faking It!', where she appeared as a panel judge identifying the fake sushi chef. Alongside teaching, she is also a sought-after private chef, creating authentic and refined Japanese dining experiences.

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A passionate ambassador for Japanese food culture, Akemi regularly collaborates with Japanese government organisations and industry partners to promote washoku, sake, and traditional Japanese culinary techniques throughout the UK and Europe. She has a particular passion for Japanese fermentation, producing a wide range of traditional Japanese seasonings at home—including multiple styles of miso, shoyu-based condiments, and other fermented foods—while continually researching and practising time-honoured fermentation and preservation techniques.

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Combining historical insight, technical expertise, and engaging storytelling, Akemi brings Japanese cuisine to life for both professionals and home cooks alike. Her mission is to preserve and share the depth, craftsmanship, and cultural significance of Japan's culinary heritage with audiences around the world.

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Professional Affiliations & Qualifications

* Committee Member, Japanese Culinary Academy EU
* Certified Miso Sommelier, Japan
* Certified Koji Making Instructor, The Koji Academy, Japan
* International Wine Challenge (IWC) Sake Judge
* Culinary Committee Member, British Sake Association


by Ian
Sushi Master Class
26 Jun 2026
A lovely, chilled and fascinating class on the amazing world of sushi and Japanese cookery

The masterclass is excellent in so many ways I don't know where to start! A maximum of 5 or 6 students in an informal kitchen setting means it is very personal, with lots of time to ask questions and get help; a fantastic chef who guides you through every step of filleting fish, making the all-important rice, slicing the fish, preparing condiments and assembling each piece; plus an abundance of background knowledge, experience and culture.
All in all, a fantastic course for beginners like me, or experienced chefs looking to expand their horizons.
Akemi was fantastic - thank you for a great afternoon!!

by Charlie
Sushi Master Class
21 Jun 2026
Fantastic class

A really brilliant class with Akemi - learnt to so much through hands on experience and expert tuition. Highly recommended!

by Carlos
Nerikiri - Japanese Confectionary
19 Jun 2026
Nerikiri workshop

I am very happy to have attended this workshop. Ideal for begginers that want to learn nerikiri modeling. Personnel was very sweet and helpful. All materials were available. If you like nerikiri this is a good place to start!