[Gourmet] Japanese restaurant `Japan` in Chungmu-ro

Japanese tend to prefer almost dry and soft sashimi, while Koreans tend to like raw fish that is succulent and somewhat chewy.

"Japan’’ (822-2279-3945), a Japanese-style restaurant next to Chungbu Police Station in Chungmu-ro 2-ga in Seoul, is serving "chambok’’ sashimi, known as the best type of globefish, from now to the end of February. The cost depends on market prices, but its sushi is priced at 50,000 won per person and boiled chambok at 45,000 won.

The chef seems to be somewhat stingy as he slices the globefish flesh as thin as paper to produce a dish with only 20 slices, but each piece is a taste sensation.

A lunch special called the "Japanese-style lunch box,’’ which contains raw fish and tempura, is hugely popular among office workers who line up at the restaurant. The lunch box comes in two sizes and is priced at 11,000 won or 15,000 won.

Owner Yang Ki-Chan is a 20-year veteran of the Japanese restaurant business. He learned how to cook Japanese cuisine from a Korean-Japanese who used to be a sumo wrestler and took over the restaurant in 1998.

"Japan" seats 70 people on its two floors, the second of which is covered with "tatami,’’ traditional Japanese floor mats.

The restaurant serves about 20 different dishes, including the chambok sashimi. Free parking is available next to the restaurant during evening hours.

Park Hee-Je min07@donga.com