Japanese master sushi chef Masahiro Nakamura prepares sushi at the Otago Museum yesterday, while (below) museum visitors (from left) Nigel de Burgh-Hirabe, Bella Dickinson (11) and Danielle Tranter (23, at right) enjoy the freshly made delicacies, though Kaia Armstrong (8, second from right) is not yet fully convinced. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Faster than you could utter the words "master sushi chef from Otaru" , the master himself, Masahiro Nakamura, from Dunedin's Japanese sister city, yesterday began expertly producing sushi delicacies for an expectant crowd of about 150 people.

Mr Nakamura was one of the stars of a day of celebrations at the Otago Museum to mark the 30th anniversary of Dunedin's sister city links with Otaru.

A lively personality, an obvious joy in his food-making art, and, within his audience, a keen interest in top-quality sushi were more than enough to overcome any language barriers during his 1.30pm demonstration.

Speaking through an interpreter, sushi compere and former Otaru Museum director Shuzo Tsuchiya explained Mr Nakamura had reduced his usual sushi-preparing pace so museum-goers could see more clearly what he was doing.

The blur of expert hands over shining ingredients may have slowed a few fractions of a second, but within moments the master began to produce beautifully prepared arrays of nigiri-style sushi, creating a blend of Dunedin-supplied fish - tuna, salmon, snapper, scallops - as well as rice, with a carefully controlled sting of wasabi, a pungent green condiment.

Dunedin onlookers were able to sample some sushi and most apparently shared the view of University of Otago student Ed Wilson (18) that it was "really nice".

Mr Tsuchiya organised an Otaru Museum exhibition held at the Otago Museum in 2005, to mark the earlier 25th anniversary of the sister city links.

Otago Museum exhibitions, development and planning director Clare Wilson said the day of free activities had proved successful, including an impressive Maori welcome at 11am with a series of other events reflecting the Ainu culture of Japan and South Island Ngai Tahu culture.

More than 1000 members of the public had taken part, watching a series of demonstrations, including of kirigami, the traditional art of cutting folded paper, as well as of Shodo calligraphy, and martial arts and traditional Maori harakeke weaving.

Mutton bird delicacies were also sampled.

Visiting yesterday was a 48-strong delegation from Otaru, led by Otaru Mayor Katsumaro Yamada, and a joint Otaru-Otago art exhibition will run at the museum until November 7.

- john.gibb@odt.co.nz