At first
Hello, this is MIKA!
The theme of this article is SUSHI, which we love very much!!XD
However, can you explain what is that's origin and how it has developed...?
Whether you have taken SUSHI in Japan or not, let's learn about it by reading this article!!
The origin of SUSHI・"NARE-ZUSHI"
【NARE-ZUSHI on crackers】
The origin of SUSHI is "NARE-ZUSHI"; it's the way to keep foods which comes from China or East Asia.
To make "NARE-ZUSHI", put so many rice and fishes into a barrel, and put a heavy rock on its lid to leaven them with a microbe like a lactic acid bacterium.
And there is a record that "NARE-ZUSHI" had been offered to Japanese Imperial Court in Nara era【710～794】.
It is different from "SUSHI" now a days, but we can try "NARE-ZUSHI" with a saury in Wakayama prefecture.
Osaka・"Kansai-zushi"
【Hako-zushi】
In Heian era【794～1192】, "Hako-zushi" had been born, which is made with a mackerel, a horse mackerel, a saury and so on in a wood box.
The reason why it's covered with leaves of a bamboo is that they have an effect of an antimicrobial.
And this is the beginning of "Osaka-zushi" and "Kansai-zushi".
【Bou-zushi】
"Bou-zushi" is pressured stick rice and fish like a mackerel or a saury.
I recommend you to take a saury Bou-zushi, especially for a burned one!
【Kakinoha-zushi】
Next, I'll tell you about "Kakinoha-zushi", one of the speciality of Nara prefecture.
But it had been born in Edo era【1603～1868】, not in Nara era.
The origin of it is that fisherman in Wakayama prefecture in Edo era brought some salted fishes to Yoshino, Nara prefecture.
People in Nara was very happy because Nara prefecture doesn't face to the sea, but it was too salty to take. So, they put it on rice; it was the beginning of "Kakinoha-zushi".
Also the leaf of Japanese persimmon(Kaki) has an effect of an antimicrobial same as a bamboo leaf.
Edomae-zushi
Anyway, "SUSHI" which you know is "Edomae-zushi".
"Edomae-zushi" was made by fishes which had been taken in Tokyo-Bay. Cookers dressed fishes speedy while they were fresh, and sterilized them with a vinegar, a salt, a wasabi(Japanese horseradish), or boiled them with a sauce to offer them at the stand near by Nihon-bashi in Edo, Tokyo.
"SASHIMI" has been born in Meiji era
Now, there is a raw fish on a piece of a rice; that style has been born around 1897, it's the 30th year of Meiji era because the technic of an ice-making has established.
After that, in Taisyou era【1912～1926】, an electlic freezing chamber has appeared, and "SASHIMI" has been kept by cooling or freezing.
A high-grade SUSHI and a general-public SUSHI
【A high-grade sushi restaurant and "Kaiten-zushi"】
During the high growth period(1955~1973), "SUSHI" which is offered by a stand has been thought it was not safe, and people can't take "SUSHI" with a cheep price.
But, in 1958, a general-public SUSHI has been revived in Osaka because the style of "Kaiten-zushi" has appeared!!
So, now a days, people go to a "Kaiten-zushi" restaurant, and go to a high-grade restaurant when they have a celebration.
In addition, "Kaiten" means "Going around"; that's why a high-grade SUSHI restaurant is called "Not-going-around SUSHI resutaurant" popularly.
【A packed-sushi、Demae-zushi】
And, we can buy a packed sushi at a supermarcket.
In the evening, they will be cheeper, it's very helpful!!
And then, when we want to take so many SUSHI at home, it's possible to offer SUSHI by a telephone or an Internet.
Finally, the thing which looks like a leaf in a packed SUSHI or Demae-zushi, a lunch box is called "Baran".
It's a holdover form of a leaf of a bamboo and Japanese persimmon.
Final comment
How was it?
This time, I've introduced you the origin and development of SUSHI.
When you have a chance to visit some places in Japan, a fish on a rice is different by the seasons or the places, so please try to go to "Not-going-around SUSHI resutaurant"!
Of course it's good to go to "Kaiten-zushi", "Going-around-sushi-restaurant"!
And, "SUSHI" is one of international foods because they has developed in each countries!
When your Japanese friend come to see you, take him/her to the "SUSHI" restaurant in your country!
