The Sides

—

Master—

Back then,

most fish dealers handled only fish.

That was the norm.

—

Tuner

But IMP¹ saw it differently.

If the same truck is already making deliveries—

why not carry more?

—

Master

Not more fish.

Vegetables.

—

Junki-sensei

Fish and vegetables,

in one delivery.

—

Tuner

The total goes up.

The work goes down.

—

Weaver

A simple shift—

but it changed everything.

—

Tuner

It started with daikon.

Not just any daikon—

aokubi (green-neck).

Sourced independently,

at a quality beyond the greengrocers.

—

Then, gradually—

Japanese cucumbers,

eggplant, kaiware, shiitake,

shishito—

—

Weaver

Seasonal fruits, too.

—

Master

And then—

yuzu.

—

Tuner

Already grown locally—

but brought into the market early.

—

Junki-sensei

Not the lead.

—

But—

sitting there.

—

Grader

Holding everything together.

—

Sukeroku

Cherry blossoms are gone.

—

Junki-sensei

A hint of humidity.

—

Sukeroku

Feels like—

we’re heading there again.

—

Junki-sensei

But not yet.

The rainy season still lingers.

—

Sukeroku

That heat?

—

Junki-sensei

We cut through it.

—

Master

Yuzukiri.