Sushi 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Cuisine

Sushi is almost synonymous with Japan and its culture. Virtually everyone in the world knows that sushi comes from Japan, and it’s probably Japan’s most recognizable export (along with electronics and cars). How popular is sushi in Japanese culture? Probably a little more popular than in the U.S., and larger cities in the U.S. have at least five to ten sushi restaurants!

Types of Sushi

Sushi has been around in Asia since at least the fourth century B.C., but as we know it today, it emerged during the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868).

Sushi is basically rice with fish and vegetables rolled up or neatly cut into pieces slightly larger than bite size. Anyone who has been to a Japanese restaurant knows that there are many types of sushi, including
Maki sushi (rolled sushi): The most recognizable type of sushi, like the California roll, is rolled with rice, vegetables and seafood.

• Maki sushi (rolled sushi): The most common type of sushi, like the California roll, is rolled with rice, vegetables and seafood
• Nigiri Sushi: The fish sits on top of the rice
• A bowl of rice topped with sashimi
• Vegetables and egg on top of the sushi
• Box sushi (literally, sushi made with the help of a box)
• Inari sushi (“God of Harvest” sushi) with fried bean curd. This type of sushi is enjoyed by many and is also offered to the fox in the Shinto shrine of the God of Harvest.

Sushi is not limited to meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans can also enjoy sushi. There are “sushi” rolls made with rice and vegetables such as avocado and asparagus for non-meat eaters. The most popular types of sushi in Japan are nigiri sushi, inari sushi, and maki sushi. You can even find them in convenience stores!

How and Where to enjoy Sushi?

So what’s the right way to eat sushi? With your hands or with chopsticks? Both methods are acceptable, although eating with your hands is the preferred method. In either case, dip the sushi in soy sauce and enjoy!

There are many places to buy sushi. There is the modern sushi shop, which is similar to a sit-down restaurant. Kaiten sushi, or “conveyor belt” sushi, is a type of sushi shop that literally places plates of sushi on a conveyor belt and the customer chooses which sushi to eat. Then there is the home delivery sushi restaurant. Sushi is not just limited to these types of places, you can even buy it in a grocery store.

Cost of Sushi in Japan

How much does sushi cost in Japan? Surely it must be cheaper than in the USA? Not necessarily! The cheapest sushi is usually 100 yen for two pieces. Restaurants that have menus without prices tend to charge much more for sushi, and these are usually the sit-down sushi restaurants.

Here you cannot just buy a piece of sushi, you have to order a plate, which can cost over 5000 yen. Prices change daily. Kaiten sushi restaurants are cheaper, and the cheapest piece of sushi at these restaurants, usually inari sushi, costs about 50 yen. Sushi from a home delivery shop will cost 600 to 800 yen for an order.

If you like Japanese cuisine or want to find more about sushi, click here to find out more.