Nami was pretty much the place to go for sushi in Toronto in the early 1990s. There were a couple places at Bloor/Christie but those were Korean and they looked pretty sketchy to Toronto people circa 1991 who were just getting over the idea sushi wasn't just a punchline but something you might actually want to eat. We were still, indeed, pretty paranoid about eating something raw and afraid of death by ill prepared sushi, as if wrapping salmon in rice and seaweed required the skills of a licensed fugu chef.
It was great sushi. And expensive. The kind of place you held in reserve for when your rich aunt and uncle came to town and wonder where they could take you to eat. "I know a place. You guys like sushi?"
Eventually, sushi became democratized in Toronto. The Sushi Bistro on Queen kicked it off. $15 (in 1995 dollars) for a "makimono set" was amazing deal compared to the $30-$50 you might have to throw down at Nami. Oddly for $15 now (in 2014 dollars) you can get decent all you can eat sushi at a number of places.
Anyway, my GF and I decided to give this blast from the past try for a Friday night repast. It strikes me that many of the people working here are actually Japanese people. Not that Koreans and Chinese and Mexicans can't make great sushi. But never much been a fan of when Koreans *pretend* to be Japanese because they think western diners just won't get Koreans also make and consume sushi. Although they call it chobap.
So. Yeah. After spending the last few years pretty much only eating AYCE sushi, it was kind of nice again to eat decent real sushi. Something more than salmon or "white tuna".
And Nami still abides.