Japanese Cuisine's Icon: Sushi

Sushi is a dish that consists of vinegared rice topped or mixed with fresh seafood and other ingredients. It is a popular Japanese dish renowned worldwide for representing Japanese cuisine.

The most common type of sushi is "nigiri sushi," where bite-sized portions of rice called "shari" are shaped by hand and topped with seafood known as "neta." A small amount of wasabi is used, and it is typically enjoyed with soy sauce.

The precursor to sushi was "narezushi," a preserved food made by fermenting fish with salt and rice. Nigiri sushi is believed to have originated in the early 19th century in Edo, which is now Tokyo. At that time, refrigeration technology was underdeveloped, so various methods like boiling or marinating fish in soy sauce were used. Initially, nigiri sushi was a budget-friendly, street food-style option, but over time, it evolved into a more upscale dining experience with the emergence of high-end sushi restaurants.

"Akami" refers to lean cuts of fish such as tuna and bonito. The fatty part of tuna, known as "toro," is especially popular. "Hakumotsu" includes white-fleshed fish like sea bream and yellowtail, known for their mild flavors. Shiny fish with translucent flesh like sardines are called "hikarimono," and some are marinated in vinegar to remove their distinct odor. In addition to these, ingredients like eel (anago) and sweet rolled omelet (tamago-yaki), which are prepared with heat, are also used in nigiri sushi.

Sushi comes in various forms, including "maki sushi," where ingredients are rolled with rice and seaweed, and "chirashi sushi," which features a colorful array of ingredients scattered on top of vinegared rice. "Inarizushi" is made by stuffing rice into sweet and savory fried tofu pouches. "Oshizushi" involves pressing rice and ingredients into a box, often found in Osaka and Toyama prefectures.

In a sushi restaurant, you will typically find a small dish with soy sauce and slices of pickled ginger called "gari." Green tea is also served alongside the sushi. The recommended way to enjoy sushi is to lightly dip the topping (neta) of the sushi into the soy sauce, not the rice, as rice tends to absorb too much soy sauce. It's perfectly fine to pick up sushi with your hands, and there's no breach of etiquette in doing so.

Today, you can experience sushi in various styles. Traditional sushi restaurants have skilled chefs preparing sushi right in front of you. Conveyor belt sushi, known as "kaitenzushi," features sushi plates moving along a conveyor belt for customers to choose from. There's also "delivery sushi" that can be delivered to your doorstep. Sushi prices vary widely, ranging from budget-friendly options around a thousand yen to high-end dining experiences. You can choose according to your preferences and enjoy the world of sushi.