Clean and polished, this casual sushi joint in one of the busiest parts of the Whity Umeda underground shopping centre may look like your run-of-the-mill mall eatery but has more history than it gives away. The original Fukusushi started business in Osaka’s Asahi ward back in 1953 and the Umeda shop has been going strong since 1963, receiving a comprehensive facelift in 2020.
That mixture of old-time charm and modern convenience attracts a diverse clientele, with diners young and old rubbing shoulders along the counters. Super-fresh seafood sourced from the city’s central wholesale market every morning is turned into a wide variety of nigiri and rolls in the hands of the resident team of itamae, who also prepare Osaka specialities such as hakozushi (‘box sushi’), in which vinegared rice and various toppings are placed in a box and pressed together into a tight stack.