Sushi Hiro's Song: Over and Over Again!

One of Jakarta’s finest Japanese restaurants, Sushi Hiro, is charming in a way to customers in other ways aside from its luxurious fresh food. For instance, one could take note of their signature paper flowers meticulously placed on the ceilings, or their classy wooden furniture all around accompanied by minimalistic Japanese paintings. However, the one thing that makes-or-breaks restaurants would be: the music choice.

Sushi Hiro’s common approach of utilizing classical piano music may not be surprising due to the already calm atmosphere it provides; but something prominent such as the music choice has captured the attention of many – including myself. This restaurant specifically chose the piece Gymnopedie no.1, composed by Erik Satie in the 1800s.

A classical piece, non-progressing and simple without a climax would commonly be deemed as ‘boring’ or perhaps ‘uninteresting’, but although it is slow, it invites the listener to indulge into the piece itself to feel self-reflection and relaxation. Overall, classical music has been proved to improve focus and attention due to its wordless structure. With this focus, the listeners will be encouraged to focus on their meal, their dining experience, and their food.

Not only that, but classical music (specifically the piano) has been commonly perceived as music that has elegance and class. This statement of affluence dates back to the 18th century – during this time, owning a piano resembled wealth and status. Pianos were owned by aristocrats and the wealthy elite who would also be able to afford proper musical training. Continuing up to the 20th century where factories had enhanced technology, their prices did decrease, but pianos continue to be seen as one of the most luxurious musical instruments to own. Thus, the status symbolised by the piano can be associated with wealth in general; persuading the customer to subconsciously believe that the food served can be perceived as a luxury. With that being said, a casual restaurant (such as fast food chains) would typically play upbeat pop music to fulfill their image of being a cheap and quick restaurant to-go, and vice versa.

The slow tempo of Gymnopedie is rather romantic and a song that avoids conflict, judging from its progression. The slowness can trigger the auditory cortex, the part of the brain that analyses rhythm, pitch, and timbre. Enough of that, though, this slowness allows the customer to take a longer time to eat, increasing the time spent at the restaurant. This could also lead to an increase in sales due to the lengthened stay as one would stick around in the ambient restaurant for longer.

All in all, the choice of a classical song, let alone a slow, unrushed song like Gymnopedie no.1 is best suited for the already purified image of what Sushi Hiro is. It fits accordingly to the quality of the food and the prices provided, as Sushi Hiro is perceived as a restaurant fulfilling for families or a group of friends; meaning that big and large amounts of plates will be served for one table, and even more to come – just because of the flawless music choice.