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← At the Maker's Table
Visited
15 August 2026 · Dinner
At the table
Hanaki-san of Sukenari.

Makers: Nobuo Hanaki

Written by
James Zhang

At the Maker’s Table: Sukenari in Toyama

James Zhang |

Toyama · Sukenari

Dinner with Hanaki-san of Sukenari at Keyaki-tei in August 2026, and memories of earlier Toyama meals with him.

Toyama · 15 August 2026 · Earlier visits: April 2016, July 2019 and 23 October 2022

Toyama · 15 August 2026
Toyama · 15 August 2026

In August 2026 I was back in Toyama, ten years after the workshop visit and dinner with Hanaki-san of Sukenari that I first wrote about. I took more photographs this time, and Hanaki-san was at the table again. We had dinner at Keyaki-tei on 15 August.

15 August 2026: dinner at Keyaki-tei

Keyaki-tei is in the Urban Place building by Toyama Station, with the name above the entrance curtains. We had a long table in a private room.

Keyaki-tei’s entrance, 15 August 2026.
Keyaki-tei’s entrance, 15 August 2026.

The sashimi came arranged around a whole prawn, red, pale and orange slices against green leaves. There was also a tray with a grilled fish, small bowls and side dishes in separate portions. The dishes sat close together on the table, with a setting in front of each of us.

Sashimi at Keyaki-tei, 15 August 2026.
Sashimi at Keyaki-tei, 15 August 2026.

There was also a small cup of steamed custard, sliced meat served over lettuce and tomato, and a glazed dish with vegetables and broth.

A small cup of steamed custard from the August 2026 meal.
A small cup of steamed custard from the August 2026 meal.
Sliced meat over salad, Keyaki-tei, August 2026.
Sliced meat over salad, Keyaki-tei, August 2026.
A tray of dishes from the August 2026 dinner.
A tray of dishes from the August 2026 dinner.
A dish served with vegetables and broth, August 2026.
A dish served with vegetables and broth, August 2026.
The table at the end of the evening, 15 August 2026.
The table at the end of the evening, 15 August 2026.

April 2016: a lesson, then dinner

When I visited Sukenari in April 2016, I had a long list of questions. I wanted to understand the honyaki knives, the steels Hanaki-san was using and the amount of work that happened inside the workshop. By the end of the day I wished it could have lasted longer.

Hanaki-san finished the workshop visit with a one-to-one sharpening lesson. I was delighted to have that time with him, and to keep the blade I had been sharpening. Then he hosted dinner. Dinner included tuna, other fish and prawn, as well as the Toyama white prawn and baby squid I associated with the region.

The Hanaki-hosted dinner from April 2016.
The Hanaki-hosted dinner from April 2016.

July 2019: Toyama specialities

After leaving Takefu, we headed straight to Toyama and had dinner with Master Hanaki from Sukenari. Whenever I wrote about the food in Toyama, two things came up quickly: shiro-ebi, the small white shrimp, and hotaru-ika, firefly squid.

The white shrimp were a particular favourite: sweet and full of flavour, as I wrote at the time. I thoroughly enjoyed dinner with Hanaki-san. I also admitted in the blog that I took only a few photographs before having a bit too much sake and passing out at the table.

One of these earlier dinners with Hanaki-san was at 四季彩 (Shikisai).

23 October 2022: Hana yori Sakana

The October 2022 dinner was at Hana yori Sakana in Toyama, a separate evening from the 2026 Keyaki-tei dinner. There was a large seafood platter, bottles and dessert.

Service at the table, Hana yori Sakana, 23 October 2022. Silent video.
Bottles at the Toyama dinner, 23 October 2022.
Bottles at the Toyama dinner, 23 October 2022.
Dessert at Hana yori Sakana, 23 October 2022.
Dessert at Hana yori Sakana, 23 October 2022.

Finding the place

Current address

Keyaki-tei

蕎麦居酒屋 けやき亭

〒930-0858 富山県富山市牛島町18-7 アーバンプレイス2F

Urban Place 2F, 18-7 Ushijimacho, Toyama 930-0858, Japan

Google Maps ↗

You can also select and copy the address above.

Keyaki-tei by Toyama Station, where we had dinner with Hanaki-san in August 2026.

Location source · checked 5 October 2026

Address

Hana yori Sakana

富山すし居酒屋 花より魚

〒930-0002 富山県富山市新富町2-1-4

2-1-4 Shintomicho, Toyama 930-0002, Japan

Google Maps ↗

You can also select and copy the address above.

Address from the Toyama city tourism listing (November 2023). Check that it is still operating before travelling.

Location source · checked 5 October 2026

Check current menus, hours and bookings with the restaurant before you go.