Tag Archive: Japan

What is Eho-maki (Lucky Direction Sushi Roll) and why people eat it in silence on Setsubun (3 February) in Japan?

It’s Setsubun on 3 February each year in Japan.

“Setsubun (節分) is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan.” (From Wikipedia)

Setsubun is known for the special ritual called Mamemaki(bean throwing), but have you ever heard of Eho-maki?

It’s a sushi roll eaten facing that year’s Eho (lucky/good fortune direction) strangely in silence for good luck on Setsubun in Japan.
The Eho changes every year and the Eho for 2019 is east-northeast.

The following video “Lucky Eho Maki (Salmon Avocado Alasca Futomaki Sushi Roll) Recipe 福を呼ぶ恵方巻き レシピ” by ochikeron shows you how to make Eho-maki.
More about Eho-maki, ingredients and how to make directions can be found on the linked Youtube page.

I grew up in Hiroshima, and when I was little, I did Mamemaki (bean throwing and eating :)), but didn’t know about Eho-maki until I moved to Osaka for my university.

I was surprised (a bit shocked) when I first heard of the Eho-maki because a friend told me that her all family members would eat it in the same room, facing the same direction (the year’s Eho), in SILENCE!!!
Can you imagine that???

I think Eho-maki is now widely known regardless of the region in Japan.

Do you want to know how strange it is to eat Ehomaki in silence, and how it became widely known?
Ask someone who has tried Ehomaki or search articles online about how to eat Ehomaki.
I’m sure you will find some interesting stories.

I just also want to mention that Eho-maki food waste was on the news last year (2018).

‘Lucky direction’ sushi roll trend makes a wasteful winter’s end (THE ASAHI SHIMBUN on February 20, 2018)

I think it’s good to keep the tradition, but hope the food waste would be minimised this year.
Probably, one of the best solutions is to make your own Eho-maki as you need it!

Comparison of three different price level Sushi restaurants in Japan


BuzzFeedVideo
Published on 30 Sep 2018

I haven’t been to any of the three sushi restaurants, so very much enjoyed watching this video.

Which restaurant are you most keen to try?


Revolving Sushi Bar Kurasushi
Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 street store
1-29-1, Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Saint-Tropez Ikebukuro building 6F

Revolving Sushi Bar Kurasushi Homepage
Menu, Location Search for all Kurasushi branches in Japan etc.


Sushi Dokoro Shun Yushimamise (GURUNAVI -Japan Restaurant Guide)
1-13-6 Ueno, Taito, Tokyo
*One of the restaurant review site (not GURUNAVI) says it will be closed for good on 31 October 2018. Please check with the restaurant in advance if you are planning to visit there.


GINZA Kyubey
8-7-6 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo


Wagashi – Traditional Japanese Sweets

They are mostly made from rice or beans and sweetened with natural ingredients.
(My father has diabetes, but his Japanese doctor says it okay to eat wagashi, but not Western sweets.)

和菓子(Wagashi) … 和(Wa = Japanese) + 菓子(Gashi/Kashi = confectionery)
和食(Washoku) … 和(Wa = Japanese) + 食(Shoku = meal)

和 also has so many different meanings such as sum, harmony, concord, peace, peacefulness, serenity, calm, calmness and quiet.

Wagashi is not just sweets, different wagashi for each season or traditional occasions… it is so much more than that!

Watch the video and enjoy the art of Washoku, and its beauty.

Sushi Saito, a 3 Michelin Star sushi restaurant in Tokyo


Saito: The Sushi God of Tokyo by Simon and Martina (Video length: 17:04)

I think there is no need for me to explain…
Just enjoy watching how the chef, Takashi Saito, prepares beautiful Sushi, starting early morning from the Tsukiji, the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world.
And also how Simon and Martina enjoy eating those beautiful mouth watering Sushi!!!

Yellowtail (鰤 – Buri)
Fatty Tuna (大トロ – Ootoro)
Small Scallops (小柱 – Kobashira)
Pickled Gizzard Shad (コハダ/小鰭 – Kohada)
Marinated Red Tuna (マグロのヅケ – Maguro no Zuke)
Marinated Salmon Roe (イクラ – Ikura)
Pickled Mackerel (鯖棒鮨 – Saba Bou Zushi)
Sea Urchin (ウニ – Uni)
Golden Cuttlefish (墨イカ – Sumi Ika)
Sea Eel (穴子 – Anago)

Throughout the video, you will feel the chef Saito’s passion for Sushi!

Sushi is circling in my head right now. 🙂
The video made me sooooo hungry! I’m sure it will make you hungry, too.

SUSHI SAITOU
ARK Hills South Tower 1F
1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Have you ever wondered about the right way to eat sushi?


How to Eat Sushi: You’ve Been Doing it Wrong by Munchies (Video length: 06:25)

In the above video, the owner chef of the Sushi Bar Yasuda, Naomichi Yasuda, will show you how to eat Sushi in the right way!

Did you know Sushi Rice is as important as (or more important than) the fish?
Did you know that there is Special Soy Sauce for Sushi?
The chef will tell you about Ginger, Wasabi, Nori seaweed etc.
Then he will tell you how to eat rolled sushi and nigiri-zushi.

I knew that we should dip only the fish side of the nigiri-zushi into soy sauce, but even many Japanese do the rice side into soy sauce. I think it’s because it’s a little tricky to do it correctly with chopsticks.

BTW the salmon came from New Zealand, where I live!!!

Now you know how to eat Sushi in the right way, so why don’t you eat Sushi for lunch or dinner today?

SUSHI BAR YASUDA
Minami-Aoyama426 Building B1
4-2-6 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo