how much do servers tip the itamae?

Question

i just started working as a server at a restaurant that sells korean food
and has a sushi bar. from what i was told, everytime i sell sushi, i
must give 10% of the sushi bill to the itamae.

for example, if i had a lot of sushi orders, and it came to $100, i
would give $10 to the itamae. but what if the customer tipped me 15% on a $100 bill consisting of sushi items?
that comes to $15. that means i would have $5 for myself, but the itamae would
have $10.

is that normal etiquette?

is that how other sushi places do this?

Answer 1

As a customer, I always thought you tip the itamae seperately, because they usually have a tip jar. However, it makes sense that if someone gives a whole tip to the server when they've eaten sushi, half of that tip should go to the itamae.

Answer 2

This is a question diners have as well. Different restaurants, different rules. Sounds kind of like a server tipping the bartenders.
That is common practice.
In some Japanese restaurants the food servers must share their tips with the sushi bar. In some others the policy is more draconian: All the tips from people eating at the sushi bar go to the itamae regardless of whether the food consumed came from the sushi bar or from the kitchen. Tipping the itamae and waiters separately, specially if you are a regular, guarantees that you'll get excellent service from both camps. It doesn't leave doubts on anyone's mind as to how much of the tip was meant for whom.

If you are the customer and don't like this advise, or getting involved in your restaurant's politics, tip whichever way you feel is the most comfortable. It's your money, after all.

I say discuss it with the management.