Jiro Ono at 100 — The Sushi Master Who Said No to Obama

Japan’s sushi legend Jiro Ono, the master behind Tokyo’s world-famous Sukiyabashi Jiro, has turned 100 and says he has no plans to retire.

Known globally for his pursuit of perfection, Ono is the oldest Michelin-starred chef in the world, having held three stars for more than a decade. The centenarian sushi master, featured in the acclaimed 2012 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, began his apprenticeship at just seven years old and opened Sukiyabashi Jiro in 1965 in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

His commitment to craftsmanship is so unshakable that he once refused a booking for then–U.S. President Barack Obama and Japan’s Prime Minister, saying his ten-seat restaurant was fully booked.

Ono attributes his longevity to working daily, eating well, and walking regularly — a philosophy he calls “the best medicine.”

His restaurant has hosted presidents, royals, and food lovers from around the world, and despite his age, he continues to prepare sushi for select guests.