Farewell Shin
Shin's sudden and unexpected passing at the end of last year was mourned by the entire community.
Shinichi Nagashima, better known to his Phillip Island friends as Shin, was born in Chiba near Tokyo on June 25, 1960.
Travelling to Australia in 2006 with Miyuki – who he originally met in high school and connected with again after a school reunion – Shin fell in love with Phillip Island and started to follow his dream to open a sushi shop in Cowes.
Working with his sister-in-law Sayuri and her husband Peter, the dream became a reality.
The restaurant was named after Sayuri and Peter’s son Youki, with whom Shin shared an unbreakable bond.
Youki’s is an iconic dining spot for the island and its reputation and popularity was due to Shin’s expert cooking and friendly nature.
Over the years, Shin fed the island’s families (making over three million sushi rolls – just from Cowes shop) and created a family at Youki’s with the staff he trained and mentored.
His sudden and unexpected passing at the end of last year was mourned by the entire community.
At his funeral service, the celebrant said: “Shin will be remembered for his love for life and his determination to keep chasing his dreams and goals.
“He never wasted time being upset, Shin was always positive and always had a kind word or smile for those that had the pleasure of knowing him.”
