“Your boxes are always packed so neatly.”

Junki: “Fish need a frame, y’know.”

“A frame? Sounds like you’re talking about a painting.”

Junki: “That’s the point. Even the box tells a story.”

“So it’s not just about the looks, huh?”

“This packing… feels like art.”

Junki: “When the deadline’s tight, speed comes first. But I never ditch the style.”

“Every move’s got soul in it, then?”

Junki: “Exactly. Wrap it right, and the fish shines even brighter.”

Junki: "A foam box for shipping fresh fish? I see it as a white canvas - makes the colors of my recommended catch stand out even more."

Bukkake, Boost Edition

"Summer’s all about cold bukkake udon, y’know!"

From the packing floor in Toyomi neighborhood, Junki’s radar is always on. Within just a few kilometers - Shinbashi, Ginza, Tsukiji - he knows where the fish plays the lead role…and where it slips into the wings.

Today’s stage? Udon. Not fish by nature, but the toppings - shrimp, horse mackerel, kombu - bring the sea into the bowl. For his boost, Junki heads to my place - known only to locals - a quiet stop that serves more than just a meal. And here’s the twist: you choose them yourself.

Junki: "Pick your toppings, and the bowl becomes yours. Same with an assorted fish set - more ways to taste, more reasons to come back."

That’s the beauty of variety: visual joy and flavor surprise. Whether the fish is a star or a sidekick, it’s still part of the story.

The Power of U: In Japanese summers, “u”-foods — Unagi (eel), Udon (wheat noodles), Umeboshi (pickled plum), and Uri (Japanese gourd) — are long believed to beat the heat. Here, “U” is both Udon and You — the diner who makes the bowl your own.

This Week’s Musubi: Grilled Tarako (Salted Cod Roe)

They say salt preserves. But here, it revives. Smoky, briny tarako seeps in slowly, restoring you from the summer’s weight.

Junki’s August picks

Next week, follow Junki to the Wasabi Weigh-In - A perfect weigh-in - lucky shot or practiced skill? Sharp, green, and precise. The final touch before the box is sealed.