The gig: Noritoshi Kanai, 92, is chairman of Mutual Trading Co., a distributor of Japanese foods and restaurant supplies based in downtown L.A.'s Little Tokyo. But more famously, Kanai is widely credited with introducing sushi to the U.S. more than 50 years ago. Founded in 1926 by several small retailers, Mutual Trading now provides 3,000 restaurants in the United States, and others around the world, with several thousand items such as sake and sushi knives. Kanai dedicates himself to training the next generation of company leaders, maintaining relationships with corporate suppliers and fostering ties with communities and governments.
Sushi pioneer Noritoshi Kanai is ambassador of Japanese values, traditions
