Hello to all Sushi lovers!

In this memorable first installment, I would like to take a closer look at the origin of Sushi, including its etymology, history, and originators.

Let’s begin!

 

Q　Where and when did Sushi originate?

Sushi is said to have originated from a fermented food called “narezushi,” which was handed down from generation to generation in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia is a warm country. Especially in the mountainous regions, fish was a precious commodity that was difficult to obtain. So a method for preserving fish for a long period of time was devised, called “narezushi,” in which fish is fermented and preserved.

This “narezushi” passed through China, and in the Nara period (710-794), it was offered to the Imperial Court as tribute.

Funazushi, which is now made near Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, is said to have originated from this “narezushi.

 

Q　What is the origin of the word Sushi?

The word “sushi” is said to be derived from the final form of the adjective “sour”, which means “sour”.

There are many theories about this, and some say that the “me” in “vinegared rice” (rice mixed with vinegar) was dropped and the word became “sushi.

In any case, the word seems to have originated from “sour food,” but unlike the “sour” vinegared rice widely used in sushi today, “sushi” is a food made by lactic acid fermentation of fish, salt, and rice.

Q Can you tell me about the kanji used to represent sushi?

There are many different kanji characters that represent sushi.

「鮓」

「鮨」

「寿司」

You may be wondering what kind of history each has, and how they are used.

First of all, “zushi” is said to be the most appropriate kanji to represent sushi. As I mentioned in the first part of this article, “The Origin of Sushi,” it is widely believed that sushi originated from a fermented food called “narezushi,” which was handed down from ancient times in Southeast Asia. The kanji for “sushi” in this “narezushi” is “zushi”, right?

And “sushi”.

And then there is “sushi,” which is said to have originally come from a Chinese character meaning “salted fish. In Japan, it has been confused with the meaning of “sushi” and used to mean the same thing.

“Sushi” is often used for Edo-mae-style sushi, while “zushi” is often used in Osaka.

“Sushi,” which is widely used in modern times, is an acronym created in the late Edo period. The word “sushi,” which is often used today, was created in the late Edo period (1603-1868) and was based on the word “juju,” or “longevity,” a word of good fortune. It is said that the word was used because sushi was one of the offerings to the Imperial Court.

By the way, there are many kinds of sushi that use ingredients other than fish, such as the “hamburger steak sushi” in the illustration. In such cases, there are situations where “sushi” and “鮨” are inconvenient for sushi with ingredients other than fish because of the use of “sakanahen” in the kanji.

Q Can you tell me about the history and evolution of sushi?

Sushi originated from a fermented food called “narezushi”, which was handed down from generation to generation in Southeast Asia. In the Nara period (710-794), it was offered as tribute to the imperial court, but it is said that it was during the Edo period (1603-1868) that the style approached the one we know today.

Mid-Edo Period (1700-1700)

In the middle of the Edo period (around the early 1700s), “Hayazushi” was born, using vinegar, the prototype of today’s sushi.

In the middle of the Edo period (around the early 1700s), “haya-zushi” was born, using vinegar, which is the prototype of today’s sushi. In haya-zushi, rice is seasoned with vinegar and salt, and there is no need for fermentation, so people can eat sushi right away without waiting.

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Since then, various types of sushi that are still eaten today, such as “box sushi”, “rolled sushi”, and “bar sushi”, have been made.

And finally, in the late Edo period, around the early 1800s, nigirizushi was born in the city of Edo. At that time, nigiri-zushi was about the size of omusubi.
It seems that it was two to three times as shore as it was.

By the way, one nice thing is 4 sentences (120 yen) to 8 sentences (240 yen), and the egg roll 16 yen (480 yen) is the most popular room.

Did you have a table to make “nigiri sushi”?

There are various theories, but the inventor of “nigiri sushi” is Hanaya Yohei of “Yobei sushi” in Edo Ryogoku, and Atakero Kanbori in Edo Fukagawa. Sakaiya Matsugoro of “Matsu no Sushi” or something like this.

Even here, after this, it became popular from Edo to the whole country, and since it is here now, it is not difficult to see the inventor of “nigiri sushi”.