- Warren Buffett made a rare visit to Japan after investing in five companies there.
- A famous investor gave up Japanese food after attending a disastrous sushi dinner in 1989.
- This is the story of Buffett’s 15-course meal. During that time he didn’t eat a single bite.
Warren Buffett recently flew to Tokyo to meet with the heads of the five largest US trading companies in which he invested years ago. A billionaire investor and his CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, he probably wouldn’t have sampled the local delicacies.
Buffett often says he found everything he enjoys eating by the time he’s six. The 92-year-old eats McDonald’s for breakfast, he drinks five cans of Coca-Cola a day, she’s candy and Dairy Queen he’s munching on Blizzards. When CNBC’s Becky Quick asked him He said what he was eating in Japan this month was Hershey’s Kiss and Coke.
In particular, Buffett vowed to abstain from Japanese food for the rest of his life after a disastrous sushi dinner in 1989.
Buffett was invited to an intimate dinner hosted by then-billionaire Sony Chairman Akio Morita. Morita’s Fifth Avenue apartment overlooked the Metropolitan Museum of Art, overlooked Central Park, and featured a sushi kitchen where guests could watch four chefs prepare their meals.
A picky eater, Buffett attended many events and ate nothing but dinner rolls. He had never tried Japanese food, but was wondering if it would suit his taste.
After sitting at the dinner table, Buffett watched his pals sip on mysterious soups and eat rubbery, unidentifiable specialties. He couldn’t stomach trying what was put in front of him and muttered excuses when the waiter removed his food.
“Course after course arrived, and each of his plates came back pristine,” writes Schroeder. “He didn’t realize there were so many things on earth that could be eaten raw.”
Buffett was sweating and writhing in his seat. He felt embarrassed, worried that he was offending the chef, and was sure he was ashamed of himself in front of the host.
Hours passed, and nothing appeared to appeal to him. Buffett longed for burgers and dreamed of escaping to a friend’s apartment near him and enjoying his ice cream with popcorn, peanuts, and strawberries.
“It sucked,” Buffett told Schroeder. “There were other people like that, but it was the worst. I will never eat Japanese food again.”
Buffett may love Japan enough to visit and invest billions of dollars in it, but it’s safe to say he’s not a fan of Japanese food.