Once virtually unknown in the USA, sushi is now a common food associated with the Japanese. So what is Sushi? Basically, sushi is cooked rice that has been treated with vinegar. The rice is can then be topped with other ingredients, most commonly seafood. It can also be rolled into a cylinder. Sushi is very different from raw sliced fish, which is called sashimi. The traditional form of sushi is fermented fish and rice, preserved in salt. Sushi literally means “it’s sour”, not raw, a misconception of the Western world.

All sushi has a base of specially prepared rice, topped with other ingredients. The sushi rice is special white rice. It is a short grained variety. After cooking, it is mixed with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Sometimes sake is added. The rice has to be seasoned at room temperature or it will be too sticky to handle. Traditionally, it is mixed in a hangiri, a round wooden tub, with a shamoji, a wooden paddle. The consistency of the rice is different from the long-grain rice of India and Vietnam. What makes the Japanese rice so desirable for sushi is its stickiness. While different regions of Japan use different types of vinegar and seasonings for the rice, the rice variety remains consistent throughout Japan.

Traditional Japanese sushi is topped with raw fish. Uncooked fish of course must be fresher and of higher quality than fish that is cooked. That is why professional sushi chefs are trained to recognize high quality fish. They have to be able to judge a fish’s characteristics, which include smell, color, and firmness. Commonly used fish are tuna, snapper, yellowtail, mackerel and salmon. Nori, the black seaweed wrapper used to make sushi rolls, is a type of algae. Pressed, dried and flavored with teriyaki and salt, the Nori sheet is often eaten alone as a snack. Nori used in sushi making is not flavored with teriyaki.

Condiments used to compliment the sushi include soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi. True wasabi has anti-microbial properties which reduce the risk of food poisoning. A commonly used substitute is horseradish and mustard powder mixed with a green dye. This is most often known as “Japanese Horseradish.”

In traditional Japanese sushi bars, green tea is always served with sushi. Another common drink served with sushi is sake. Sake, a wine made from rice, is normally served hot.

Want to impress your friends or family? Host an easy to prepare, traditional Japanese meal. Prepare a low table with some cushions or mats surrounding it. Place a simple vase with a flower or two on the table. Purchase or download some traditional Japanese ongaku (music), such as shomyo or gagaku, to play in the background. Buy kimonos for everyone or just one for yourself if you are serving. Purchase some sushi to go at your favorite restaurant or food store (make sure you use it right away). Heat some sake, make some green tea, light the candles, turn down the lights, and you are ready to go. A wonderful evening in Japan for your guests!

Nancy McDonough was for many years an English teacher in Japan. She is conversant in Japanese and travels to Japan yearly. She founded her retail kimono company in 1992. Nancy currently manages her kimono retail company Kyoto Kimono and her blog is here, Kyoto Kimono Mania.