The number of   Japanese restaurants in Manila reflects Filipinos' appetite for Japanese food, with big bento boxes popularized by restaurant group Nobu, the sushi spreads, and the draw of deep-fried tempura. It's easy to trump substance with presentation, but according to this year's Nescafe Gold Spot award judges, it's all about freshness when it comes to Japanese food.

Chef Him Uy de Baron shares, "Freshness is paramount, from raw sashimi to tempura, and even for the teppanyaki. It's always about the quality and freshness of the ingredients used."

Fellow panelist Aileen Anastacio adds, "I look for freshness for sashimi and sushi. If they're serving tempura, coating should be crisp and not bread-y, shrimps should always be fresh."

This year, five spots aim to be called the Best Japanese restaurant of 2009:

Inagiku

Makati Shangri-la's Japanese restaurant, Inagiku, offers a cosmopolitan Japanese dining experience. The restaurant's modern furniture and minimalist décor provide the perfect backdrop to Master Sushi Chef Wataru Hikawa's dishes. Bestsellers include grilled flatfish, blue fin tuna belly, teppanyaki live lobster and soft shell crabs. The menu also includes homemade ice cream in wasabi, red bean, black bean and green tea flavors and an extensive list of sake to choose from.

Inagiku offers a lunch buffet on weekends, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at P1,742 + per person.

Seryna

Seryna, is one of Little Tokyo's restaurants with a wide range of menu choices including lunch bento sets with salad, miso soup, rice and a main dish, all for P380. Japanese nationals frequent Seryna and the best seat in the house is by the sushi bar where you can watch the Japanese sushi chef meticulously work wonders on slabs of the freshest fish.

Word-of-mouth has made the four-year-old restaurant a Japanese food go-to place, and reservations are recommended especially on weekends.

Sugi

Sugi's menu offers one of the widest Japanese food selections in Manila, with their box-style sushi, squid and sea urchin dishes. The first branch in Greenbelt 1 opened in 1983 and Sugi has maintained its consistency in dishing out fresh and impressive Japanese eats over the years.

Sushi Kappo Kobikicho

Hailed as one of the best sushi spots in Manila, all ingredients at Sushi Kappo are flown in weekly from Japan and masterfully prepared by Japanese chefs. The restaurant manager, dressed to the nines in a tux, welcomes you into a sophisticated dining area with a main sushi bar and dining rooms for private functions.

At Sushi Kappo, you can choose from the menu or have the chefs prepare your meal according to your budget. While the menu is a bit on the expensive side, fresh ingredients, stellar service and a knowledgeable staff have made this Japanese restaurant worthy of a visit.

Tsumura Sushi Bar and Restaurant

Tsumura is known for its well-plated sushi platters and fresh seafood. A restaurant tucked away on the second floor of a Salcedo Village building, Tsumura has gained a following with discriminating foodies singing praises for its fresh and flavorful sushi, sashimi and teppanyaki.

Which spot gets your nod for Best Japanese? Cast your votes now.

Photographs from shangri-la.com (Inagiku), Iggy Bilbao (Seryna), kobikicho.com (Sushi Kappo Kobikicho), Marie Bismonte (Sugi), tableforthreeplease (Tsumura).