Sagami is reopening on Aug. 1

COLLINGSWOOD — Sagami restaurant will reopen and continue on after the death of its family matriarch.

The restaurant, part of the Collingswood community since 1974, recently posted an online note that it would be “closed for the foreseeable future due to the passing of co-owner Chizuko Fukuyoshi.”

Fukuyoshi, the wife of co-owner and chef Shigeru Fukuyoshi, died on July 15. At the time of her passing, the restaurant was already closed for summer vacation.

Her daughter, Mimi Fukuyoshi,, said Sagami will reopen for dinner four days a week.

“Yes, Sagami is reopening this Thursday, August 1,” she said in a message to the Courier Post. “Only dinner, Thursday through Sunday. We just felt like it was strange to close for summer vacation and never reopen. I also think it’s good for my dad to continue.”

Chef Shigeru Fukuyoshi and his wife Chizuko had operated the restaurant together since it opened.

A social media post had stated that Sagami was permanently closing, but Mimi Fukuyoshi said that was incorrect.

Sagami has drawn national acclaim.

It was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2017 and 2019 and Chef Fukuyoshi was a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef in 2023 in the James Beard Awards. James Beard Awards are among the highest honors in the culinary world.

Closed for now Beloved Japanese restaurant is closed 'for the foreseeable future' due to co-owner's death

Chizuko was born in Tokyo and immigrated to New York City in 1969 and met and married Shigeru, according to her obituary. They relocated to South Jersey in 1974, and Sagami soon became a favorite sushi restaurant in the region.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sagami is reopening on Aug. 1