Tag Archive: Sushi

Chirashizushi: Japan’s Colorful and Delicious Celebration Dish

Konnichiwa everyone! If you love Japanese food, you’ve probably heard of sushi. But have you tried chirashizushi? This colorful and tasty dish is a popular meal in Japan, especially during special occasions like birthdays and festivals.

Chirashizushi literally means “scattered sushi.” Unlike traditional sushi rolls, chirashizushi is a bowl of sushi rice topped with a variety of colorful ingredients such as raw fish, shrimp, vegetables, and egg. The ingredients are arranged on top of the rice in an eye-catching design, making it a perfect dish to serve at parties or celebrations.

One of the best things about chirashizushi is that it’s incredibly easy to make. All you need is some sushi rice, vinegar, sugar, and salt to make the perfect sushi rice. (*Or use sushi rice with a variety of finely chopped and seasoned vegetables mixed in.) Once the rice is cooked, you can start adding your favourite toppings. Some popular toppings include salmon, tuna, shrimp, tamagoyaki (sweet omelet), cucumber, and avocado. You can also add some wasabi or soy sauce to give it some extra flavour.

In Japan, chirashizushi is often eaten on special occasions such as Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival) and Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day).

Hinamatsuri is a festival that is celebrated on March 3rd to pray for the health and happiness of young girls. On this day, families display a set of hina dolls, which represent the Emperor, Empress, and other court figures, on a tiered stand. They also enjoy a special meal with their loved ones, and chirashizushi is often served as part of the celebration.

If you’re interested in making chirashizushi at home, there are plenty of recipes available online. You can also find chirashizushi in many Japanese restaurants around New Zealand. So why not try this delicious and colorful dish today? It’s sure to impress your friends and family with its beautiful presentation and delicious taste!

Note: This article is written by ChatGPT and edited by the Washokuzine team.

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


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