Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
Well, I can give some input on what may be going on in Japan regarding this. I do not have much of opinions regarding the Michelin Restaurant Guide since I never made used out of the guide. I have nothing against the Michelin Restaurants Guide but never made use out of it so I really do not have opinions.
Japan tends to be group oriented society where people follow other and ended up doing similar stuff. When one thing become trendy and media start to talk about it, then many in Japan follow. I do think the Michelin Restaurant Guide had similar effect in Japan when first Tokyo edition was published on November 2007. Gossip type talk shows went crazy talking like Tokyo has finally ranked as one of top culinary cities in the world because of the Michelin Guide. Also it was first time Japanese restaurants, including sushi restaurants, obtained three stars on any of the Michelin Guide. Again those gossip type media went on saying Japanese cuisine has finally recognized on the same level as French cuisine.
People bought into this new trend of the Michelin Restaurant Guide in Japan, then “Michelin Guide said this and Michelin Guide said that” become trendy in Japan. Some celebrity chefs came out of the Michelin Guide, famous one is Sukiyabashi Jiro where before the Michelin Guide Tokyo edition the owner chef of Sukiyabashi Jiro was known among die hard sushi foodies in Japan (many not so good reviews regarding personality of the owner chef, but great review about food) but not so well known among average Japanese.
Yes, there were some critics in Japan who did not give positive review of the Michelin Guide Tokyo edition, but had minimal influence on how mass in Japan thought about the Michelin Guide. Then recent thing about a restaurant with a sushi chef only having one year of training obtaining star on the Michelin Guide along with
Ramen restaurant obtaining Michelin star. Finally gossip type media in Japan is starting to say about the Michelin Guide, talking about what really the Michelin Guide represents and some questioning how the Michelin Guide ranks restaurants.
If Japanese mass pick up on these and become trendy to think about the Michelin Guide that way in Japan, then it is possible that the Michelin Guide will become less respected than before in Japan.
+1 - agree with all of this - especially the cultural idiosyncrasies (I still can't believe how long people will queue at that bread place in Ginza next to Gold's Gym - all because it seems they see everyone else doing it (the bread isn't THAT good lol). I walk by it all the time and rain, sleet or even snow there are SO many people standing in line it's incredible...
As someone who works in the industry I can tell you that the Michelin guide isn't worthless - and it still really is the only "global standard" - but how you get your star is, let's just say, HIGHLY subjective.
If you want one - it's really not that hard to get one if you have some basic talent, basic quality, and let's just say - enough resources... I won't go so far as to degrade the truly talented chef's in Tokyo that really earn their rating (I think the Tokyo / Osaka corridor offers the finest in the world) - but to get a star isn't what it used to be...