For many Americans, sushi is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Japanese food. Taiko and Junichi Nojiri, owners of Taiko Japanese Cuisine in Cy-Fair, want to show area residents there is much more to Japanese cooking than raw seafood rolled in rice.

The Nojiris owned several restaurants in Japan before moving to the U.S. at the request of a restaurateur who wanted them to work for him at a corporate restaurant, Taiko Nojiri said.

After several years, the couple decided to open up their own restaurant with the desire to have more freedom from corporate procedures, Taiko said. They have been running Taiko Japanese Cuisine for four years now, she said.

“We wanted to show people that you can eat good food that also has vegetables and healthy things,” she said.

The couple manages the restaurant together. Junichi handles the bulk of the cooking while Taiko serves as the hostess, greeting customers at the door and showing them to their seats. Everyone on staff speaks Japanese.

Junichi has had an interest in cooking since college and is self-taught in the culinary arts, Nojiri said. In Japan, he insisted on getting fresh ingredients every week from the Tsukiji central market, known for selling some of the freshest seafood in Japan. Junichi brought his focus on fresh ingredients to Houston, where he purchases goods from Japanese markets in the city, including JFC International on Northcut Road.

The theme of making ingredients from scratch extends to the entire menu at Taiko, its owners said. Both Taiko and Junichi spend almost all of their time during the day at the restaurant. Junichi arrives early each morning to prepare food, making everything from scratch down to the sauces.

“He has a strong passion for cooking,” Nojiri said.

Although Houston does not have a significant Japanese population, Taiko Japanese Cuisine tends to attract Japanese people who do live in the area, Nojiri said.

“A lot of the big Japanese companies in the area will make reservations here for their corporate events or parties,” she said. “They miss Japanese food. They think of me as their mom, cooking them home-cooked meals. People appreciate the fact that it feels like home.”