>>212259316
I tried sashimi for the first time like couple of years ago.
I always thought that "it's just thinly sliced fish" was a meme. But that's exactly what it was. Some restaurants server it fancily, with some greens and condiments on the side, but that's it. In essence, you're just paying an incredible mark-up for a guy that slices fish for you.
I understand that it's about the experience, the feeling of it. Same reason why some people prefer analog tech, when its specs are inferior. Hell, some rich people get the kick from the sole fact of burning money on trivialities. But I think it's bizarre.
Hell, Japan as a whole feels like that. Like they worked on the marketing for their whole pop culture to project this image of sophistication, which is totally empty inside. Nothing more than bunch of hollow rituals that don't really improve the substance that much.