Yakitori Chicken Skewers

Instructions

1. Make the yakitori sauce
   In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10-12 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and divide the sauce in half (one for basting during cooking, one for serving).
2. Prepare the chicken
   Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked bamboo skewers, alternating with green onion pieces. Leave a small space at the bottom of each skewer to use as a handle.
3. Preheat the grill
   Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly brush the grates with vegetable oil to prevent sticking. If using an oven, set it to broil and position the rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
4. Grill the skewers
   Place the skewers on the preheated grill and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Brush the chicken with the basting portion of the yakitori sauce. Continue cooking and turning, basting occasionally with more sauce, until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred, about 10-12 minutes total.
5. Rest and serve
   Remove the skewers from the grill and let them rest for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve hot with the reserved yakitori sauce for dipping. Serve alongside steamed rice or a simple green salad for a complete meal.