Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ Episode 7 Recap: Sushi and Sex in Tokyo

Anthony Bourdain explains last night's episode of Parts Unknown as "one of the most brilliantly shot and edited episodes" that his crew has ever done. It could also easily be considered one of the edgiest and most provocative.

Bourdain's trip through Tokyo is as much about sushi as it is about fantasy, fetishisms, obsessions, and sex. And rather than digging into Tokyo's past, Bourdain takes viewers' shock and turns it on themselves, asking viewers to question how differently these scenes are from their own dark desires.

The episode starts with a trip to what Bourdain calls "the greatest show" he's ever seen in his life. The dizzying procession of cartoon animals, scantily dressed women, and robots sets the pace and tone for the rest of the episode -- an exploration of a city obsessed with living their fantasies online or through paid services rather than in real life.

He meets a collection of characters who each play a different role in the crowded city's extracurriculars. Bourdain eats grilled fermented fish and skewers of beef intestine with rope artist Kinoko Hajime whose built a career on tying up men.

"Tomika has spent most of her time ripping, burning, and generally abusing men."-@Bourdain, on exploring Tokyo's sadomasochistic community

— Parts Unknown (@PartsUnknownCNN) November 4, 2013

He eats dinner with the pioneer manga artist Toshio Maeda who created a completely new form of graphical deviance by introducing tentacles and demons to comics.

The best part is how totally NOT freaked the owner of the restaurant was by unbelievable images on open display..#partsunknown

— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) November 4, 2013

And he drinks beers with "melodic death metal" band Merging Moon whose members wish they could rock out instead of working part-time jobs like their parents expect.

Too much fun filming with @MergingMoon #tokyo @Bourdain @HelenCho @PartsUnknownCNN #PartsUnknown pic.twitter.com/6KCQ3pJfeR

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013

Bourdain also searches for a connection between this strange mesmerizing side of Japan's culture and one of the greatest sushi chefs of all time.

Bourdain spends much of the episode with Naomichi Yasuda. Yasuda is the founder of one of New York City's most famous sushi restaurants who quietly disappeared to Tokyo after 27 years of building his stateside empire. Yasuda now runs a 12-seat sushi shop where he applies the skills he's honed from a lifetime of karate -- speed, timing, and distance -- to cooking.

Yasuda's story and sushi techniques are celebrated throughout the episode. And the scene of his giant hands molding tiny pieces of sushi is one of the most beautiful and well-produced segments of the entire season.

The episode was particularly fun to watch in tandem with Twitter since both Bourdain and the segment producer Josh Ferrell tweeted along with each scene. Find some of the best behind-the-scenes shots and stories shared below:

Watch with us: @Bourdain's livetweeting tonight's @PartsUnknownCNN TOKYO ep. & seg prod @TheMagicalGiant too! 9PM ET. pic.twitter.com/O0oRoSqpxX

— 𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔫 𝔠𝔥𝔬 (@HelenCho) November 3, 2013

Dir of Photography @diamondmofallon has mastered the art of scooter filming @PartsUnknownCNN @Bourdain @HelenCho pic.twitter.com/La84cQuX5S

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013

Motsuyaki (Skewed intestines)& Motsunabe (Intestine Stew) @ Daitoryo in Ueno Tokyo @Bourdain @HelenCho #PartsUnknown pic.twitter.com/GJ7YZpVq19

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013

The Funky Robots of Robot Restaurant- Tokyo @Bourdain @PartsUnknownCNN @HelenCho pic.twitter.com/b5aj4OqOqF

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013

W/ @IronJareBear RT @HelenCho: m/(✖_✖)m/ crew photo with @MergingMoon #PartsUnknown pic.twitter.com/7rx4w4XfwV

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013

Jet lag pic.twitter.com/AePadlr2Kp

— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) November 4, 2013

That's all folks! Til next time @PartsUnknownCNN #PartsUnknown pic.twitter.com/GCeTehoZyk

— Josh Ferrell (@TheMagicalGiant) November 4, 2013