What is Aburi?
Defining Aburi
Literally translated, Aburi means “flame seared”, but as a company philosophy this word encompasses a much more profound image of innovation and change. When flame is applied to sushi, the heat changes the sushi’s flavour to create something new and exciting. With the same thought in mind, we take traditional Japanese ingredients and techniques and combine them with local ingredients and palates for a truly innovative culinary experience. Our vision is to introduce this fresh and addictive style of Aburi cuisine to the world.
The Making of Aburi Sushi
Traditional sushi is crafted by combining raw seafood with shari (seasoned rice). Sushi is considered an art form in Japan, stressing the balance of flavour and texture, as well as beauty in presentation.
Aburi sushi is the innovation of flame searing the seafood in order to create new textures while enhancing its natural flavours. At Minami, we have taken Aburi to the next level by adding our own signature twist to this innovative style of cuisine.
Pioneers of Aburi Sushi in Canada
We are proud to be the pioneers of Aburi sushi in Canada. Our signature Miku sauce is a secret recipe created in-house, and few key people know of its ingredients. Our sushi chefs understand that the key to perfecting Aburi sushi is in balancing each component’s texture and coordinating their flavours so that both come together to create the perfect bite.
Restaurant Concept
Established as the second location of the Aburi Brand in North America, Minami offers a combination of Japanese and West Coast cuisine in a comfortable, rustic atmosphere. Minami presents the Aburi take on red meats and seafood dishes to enjoy with your choice of sake, wine, or specialty cocktail. From intimate gatherings with family and friends to professional corporate events, Minami’s welcoming atmosphere with amazing cuisine and impeccable service creates a lasting dining experience.
Meet Seigo
“ I don’t just want a business, but want to create a culture and a community ” – Seigo Nakamura
With a big vision and hardly any English, Seigo Nakamura took his family restaurant business of nearly six decades across the world in 2008. Successfully operating eight restaurants in the southern Japanese city of Miyazaki, going international was never an ‘if’ for restaurateur Seigo Nakamura, but a matter of when and where. His father and former owner of the business, Juichi, always admired Canada, and when Seigo visited Vancouver for the first time in 2007 he immediately knew his concept would fit into the city’s flair for multicultural cuisine and healthy living. The following year, Miku Restaurant opened in Vancouver downtown, specializing in beautifully executed Aburi (flame-seared) sushi and entree dishes. After 3 successful years, Miku has grown a reputation amongst Vancouverites as ‘the place to go for Aburi sushi.’ Following this favorable outcome and his personal dream of expansion, Seigo knew it was the right time to open up his second venture, Minami, in the vibrant neighborhood of Yaletown.
Minami is the name of Seigo Nakamura’s second daughter. The name, written in Japanese symbolically means ‘a beautiful wave.’
Philosophy
“My goal in business is not just to be successful. I want to create a whole culture and community.” – owner and CEO, Seigo Nakamura
A restaurant is a business that connects people through delicious food, comfortable space, and memorable service. We believe that the greatest restaurants not only connect people but also build lasting relationships, both staff-to-guest and staff-to-staff.
Our Aburi corporate philosophy is Ningenmi. Literally translated as ‘the human flavour,’ Ningenmi is a Japanese term used to refer to a person with outstanding human qualities of sincerity, thoughtfulness, and passion. Adopted as our corporate philosophy by owner and CEO Seigo Nakamura, he defines this term as “finding happiness in one’s life by bringing joy to others”.
The three principles within our Ningenmi philosophy are:
We strive to provide an exceptional dining experience for our guests with utmost sincerity and pride
We prioritize creating a respectful and supportive work environment for ourselves and our colleagues
We take each day as an opportunity to improve and discover our infinite potential both individually and as a team