The Chef & The Daruma

Hidekazu Tojo's role in the creation of what is now known as the 'California Roll' helped introduce sushi to a western audience, and catapulted his name to celebrity status as sushi boomed in North America - but it wasn't always this way. When he came to Vancouver in the '70's he faced a staggering amount of racism from locals, while sushi was seen as bizarre and foreign. How much did Tojo have to change about himself and his food to fit in with his new community? We chronicle the hardships he faced, how he navigated them, and we follow his ongoing journey in search of identity. This is also the story of Daruma, an ancient fable about a Buddhist monk. The dolls made in his image are a traditional Japanese symbol of setting a goal, sticking to it, and getting back up when you fall. The film tracks the fable as a colorful, eye-catching parallel to Tojo's incredible story, and their shared theme of standing tall in the face of adversity.