Passing of Sushi Legend Yuji Hiraoka

September 7th, Victoria notified me that Yuji lost his life on the late evening of September 6th after his annual Cor d'Alene cooking trip in an accident. The grief that swarmed upon me after getting the news, grasping what she is going through in these moments, knowing how many people's lives he has touched, influenced and brought joy to by his smile, his love to make people happy and by just being YUJI is immense. He will be missed beyond measure by so many.

Please say a prayer today, and for as long as you remember to do so, for the tragic loss for the family and Victoria to overcome this grief with some sort of peace. And to all that love him dearly, If you have a story about him, please share it. Allow his memory to live on so strong that it carries his family during this difficult time.

I'm setting up this fund to support Victoria to take time to not worry about life and work, in getting him back home, to help with the memorial services and for a celebration of his life here at his home away from home in Laguna Beach for his friends here when the time is calm and right at Nirvana Grille with Victoria in honoring them having their first date at the restaurant to honor him.

Yuji you will forever be will be greatly missed. Thank you for touching so many people's lives.

Many times in life we cross paths with individuals that we have immediate comfort with. The kind of friendships established from the simplest intersection of life that brings you together. I've had many friends in my life thusfar, but one in particular has been a static part of life in a very simplistic way. One with a contagious humility and authentic way of being that continued on for years and began because of our family having a Japanese exchange student when I was around 9 years old. As the years went on, someone I mey began to be someone I knew from this interaction, to be someone that I found an immediate friendship with and of course, it was centered around food. This was with the genius sushi chef Yuji Hiraoka of San Shi Go Sushi in Laguna Beach. For the last 25 years, I held Yuji at the helm of all that was unique and wonderful with regards to the best sushi, made always around what I would or would not eat, what dietary concerns I had, around family dinners, single dinners, around dating year to year, then the night of my engagement party, to having our chopsticks ready for us on the wall when we sat down and still residing there, all through my pregnancy, when Diego was an infant only eating rice to being introduced to sushi at a year with a special toro roll, and through the subsequent years. I always knew I would be taken care of, get my hug, a great conversation on life and family and catch up on all that was new, up until the sad but joulyful moment when he was moving to the dessert and no longer in Laguna to be able to have a great job and be close to his passion of golfing with his new beautiful bride Victoria. Throughout the years just knowing this kind, gentle, humorous, talented, humble, creative man with an infectious smile that went on for miles and made me feel honored that I could hold such a friendship in someone I had such great respect for and that has continued all these year up until today. When I was blessed with having him coming when I opened into my restaurant to visit me, celebrating with friends, bringing his now wife on their first date to Nirvana Grille and getting to know their love and his absolute joy in life knowing he met his person was a gift to be a part of. After that, I also then had 2 great friends as of course he chose an incredible woman to be his wife, Miss Victoria. Throughout the years I have got to see his life soar and their love and joy for life and taking in all the moments grow. I am do grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this man's life.