Chef Closed His Restaurant for a Day to Take His Son to Legoland on His 7th Birthday

When Chef Genji Sato closed his restaurant to take a day off work, it didn’t occur to him that the reason behind it will earn praise from social media users.

Genji is the owner and chef at Sasabune in Glendale, California. On Saturday, he shared a post to his restaurant’s Instagram that the diner would be closed so he can take his son to Legoland. It was his son Daiki’s 7th birthday.

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A post shared by Sushi Sasabune Glendale (@sushisasabuneglendale)

“We will be closed 2/28 Monday,” the sign, which featured balloons and a rainbow, read. “Due to the chef takes his son to LEGOLAND for son’s 7th birthday.”

Almost immediately, the post began racking up likes and comments, and a tweet of the sign from the restaurant has racked up 40,000 retweets and nearly 560,000 likes.

“I hope the chef and his son have a good day at Legoland :),” reads one tweet.

Genji told TODAY Food he and wife, Kaya, began the tradition when their son, Daiki, turned 4.

“My son picked Legoland,” Genji said, adding that each year he posts the sign of the restaurant closing, he gets positive feedback.

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A post shared by Sushi Sasabune Glendale (@sushisasabuneglendale)

Genji, who has been a chef for more than 20 years, revealed that running a Japanese restaurant keeps him very busy. On the restaurant’s Instagram profile, it declares“NO SPICY TUNA ROLL. NO CALIFORNIA ROLL. NO TEMPURA & TERIYAKI. SERIOUSLY!!”

“I am going to the fish market every morning at five in the morning,” Genji told TODAY. “I don’t have much time to spend with family. I’m working so hard.”

Genji revealed Daiki’s birthday is actually in October.

“But it was busy for me so I didn’t have the time,” he said of the delayed birthday celebration.

Genji told TODAY the family has been enjoying their time at Legoland this year, which has so far included riding go-carts and a trip to the playground.

“We (have been) here since yesterday,” Genji said of Daiki’s annual birthday excursion, adding that this year’s celebration was the first time in two years the family has been able to return to Legoland since the pandemic. “It’s good to be with family.”

It’s good to be with family, indeed. It’s even more special to see and hug family members now after being apart during lockdowns.

Source: TODAY