Nakato Japanese Restaurant to Celebrate 40 Years

In 1972, the Nakato family opened a Japanese restaurant in Atlanta that aimed to serve the finest Japanese cuisine.

Forty years later, Sachi Nakato, third-generation owner of off Cheshire Bridge Road, is proud to continue the vision into the restaurant’s 40th anniversary.

“I feel blessed to be in such a position,” she told Patch. “In an industry where there is so much competition and turn over, I feel my family and employees' hard work and dedication has kept it going and inspires me more to continue the tradition.”

Nakato’s grandmother and mother started the business in 1972. Her cousin's side of the family owns two Nakato Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina and the location in Springfield, Missouri. Her side of the family owns the Atlanta restaurant and the location in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“I am very proud and honored to carry on the family business into its 40th anniversary year,” she said.

“I was raised in the restaurant industry, knowing how hard my family worked to keep it going.  Today, the work ethic is still with me, and the regular customers that knew my grandmother and family from way back in the day inspire me to keep the tradition going.”

To celebrate milestone anniversary, Nakato is offering two Sushi 101 classes to learn the art of sushi making.

Students will make three rolls while enjoying edamame and saki. Nakato’s third generation sushi chef, Yoshiharu Kakinuma, will guide the class. The classes will be offered May 3 and May 31 and cost $75 per person.

A four-course traditional Japanese dinner — “Dinner after Jiro” — is also on the menu to celebrate the anniversary. The dinner was inspired by the sushi documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” which is playing at the Tara Cinema.

Nakato and her family are proud to celebrate 40 years in business, and she is determined to continue the legacy many years down the road.

 “I feel the responsibility to keep up on the changing culture and tradition of the restaurant and hospitality industry to keep it going for another 40 years,” she said.

Connect with Virginia-Highland Patch on Facebook and Twitter at @VaHiPatch. Get Patch in your inbox.