「すし(寿司・鮨・鮓)」は、焚いたお米と「すし酢」を混ぜた「すし飯(酢飯)」に、魚介類や野菜などの食材(ネタ)を合わせた日本料理です。
“Sushi
今日、「すし」は日本を代表する「和食」の一つとして、海外でも人気になっています。
“Sushi”
has become popular overseas as one of the representative “Washoku
“Kome 米 Rice” and “Gyokai-rui 魚介類 Seafood” are the
primary centerpieces of the diet in Japan.
And
“Sushi” came from Southeast Asia with rice cultivation.
In the
past, “Sushi” was a way of preserving food using the process of fermentation,
and lactic acid prevented fishes from rot.
それは「なれずし(熟れずし・馴れずし)」と呼ばれ、魚を塩とお米で漬け込み熟成させます。
It is
called “Nare-zushi なれずし(熟れずし・馴れずし)” that is made by soaking
fish in salt and rice and ripening it.
The rice
was just for packing around fish and was discarded before consumption of the
fish.
“Nare-zushi なれずし” still exists as a regional specialty, including “Funa-zushi 鮒ずし Crucian carp Sushi” at Shiga Prefecture.
「すし」の語源は、古い時代の文法表現で「酸っぱい」を意味する「酸し(すし)」です。
The term“Sushi” came from an old grammatical form “Sushi
“Sushi 寿司” is the lucky (auspicious) “Kanji 漢字 Chinese character” to offer the Imperial Court in Kyoto as a tribute.
“Sushi 鮨” of “Kanji” was used in Edo and “Sushi 鮓” of “Kanji” was used in Osaka.
“Su 酢 Vinegar” began to be added to the preparation of “Nare-zushi” in “Muromachi-jidai
室町時代 Period (1336–1573)” for enhancing both taste and preservation.
米の酸味を増すことに加えて、「酢」は食べ物の寿命を延ばして発酵プロセスを短縮し、そして、最終的に発酵が不要になりました。
In
addition to increasing the sourness of the rice, “Su Vinegar” increased the
longevity of foods, the fermentation process to be shortened and eventually
abandoned.
Styles
of “Sushi” and its presentation vary widely, but the one of key ingredient is “Su-meshi
酢飯 Vinegared rice”.
In “Edo-jidai
江戸時代
Period (1603–1868)” ,
fresh “Gyokai-rui 魚介類 Seafood” was served over “Su-meshi”
and “Nori のり Laver”.
“Su-meshi
酢飯 Vinegared rice” is called “Sushi-meshi すし飯” or “Shari シャリ”.
「シャリ」の語源は、仏教用語の「舎利」で、お米を意味する「シャーリ」と遺骨・遺骸を意味する「シャリ―ラ」の二つの意味があります。
The
origin of the word “Shari シャリ” is “Sari 舎利” in Buddhist term that has two meaning of rice and ash/dead body.
It is also
said that “When Buddha was cremated, his bone was broken like rice grain”.
“Sushi-shokunin
すし職人 Chef” put steaming-hot, freshly cooked rice into the “Sushi-oke すし桶 Wooden rice barrel”, and blends “Sushi-zu
すし酢
Vinegar” using “Shamoji しゃもじ Wooden rice
paddle (scoop)”.
この時、一つひとつの米粒を潰さないようにしなければなりません。
It takes
skill to mix “Sushi-zu” into the rice without crushing the individual grains.
Next the
rice must be cool down using “Uchiwa
The sugar that is contained in “Sushi-zu”
form a coating around each grains of rice.
This
prevents the rice from becoming sticky and seals the flavors in the grains.
時代を経て、魚を保存する方法として始まった「すし」が、今日、世界中で食べられる日本食に発展しました。
Over
time, “Sushi” what began as a method for preserving fish developed into most
famous Japanese cuisine that is eaten around the world today.
今日の「握りずし」が開発されたのは19世紀の初めです。
The
particular style of today's “Nigiri-zushi 握りずし Hand formed
sushi” was developed in the early 19th century.
屋台で立食いスタイルが江戸で流行しました。
The
style of eat standing at “Yatai 屋台 Food carts or stalls”
became popular in Edo.
この頃になると、町人は豊かさを享受するようになりました。
Around
this time, people in the city were starting to enjoy a rich life.
And people
felt a great interest in their foods.
New
kinds of food were developed to match the informal style of eating at “Yatai”.
“Tempura
天ぷら”, “Soba 蕎麦”, and “Nigiri-zushi”, the
representative tastes of Edo, began in outdoor “Yatai” where people could
easily buy foods and eat them on the spot.
The
ingredients placed on top of “Shari” are called “Sushi-neta” or “Neta
People read
“Tane
“Nigiri-zushi”
used fresh various seafood that were caught in “Edo-mae 江戸前 Edo bay (The sea in front of Edo)”
So, “Nigiri-zushi”
was also called “Edo-mae-zushi 江戸前ずし”.
今日、「江戸前」という言葉は、その手軽な由来にかかわらず、高級料理のブランドとしても使用されています。
The term
“Edo-mae 江戸前” is also used as the brand of high-grade
dishes today, regardless of its convenient origins.
The size
of “Nigiri-zushi” that combines “Shari” and “Neta” is just a bite size.
Biting
“Neta” with “Shari”, the flavors and textures blend together, and produce adelectable flavor of great depth.
“Sushi-shokunin
すし職人
Shef” takes “Neta” in the left hand, then hold and form “Shari”
with the right hand.
He lay “Wasabi
山葵 horseradish” on the underside of “Neta”, and hold it with “Shari”,
and finish “Sushi” in a short time.
“Wasabi 山葵 horseradish” and “Gali ガリ Pickled ginger”
have antibacterial effect.
When
eating “Nigiri-zushi”, it is basic to grab it by hand and put it in your mouth,
but you can use “Hashi 箸 Chopsticks”.
Take “Sushi”
Upside down and put “Shoyu 醤油 Soy sauce” to the
side of “Neta”.
When “Neta”
comes with “Tare タレ Sauce” or when it is served with “Sio 塩 Salt”, you eat “Sushi” without “Shoyu”.
In
addition to raw and vinegared seafood, “Neta” of “Nigiri-zushi” also includes
simmered and boiled fish and omelet.
In
spring, “Kisu 鱚 Japanese Sillago”, “Shirauo 白魚 Icefish”, “Sayori 細魚 Halfbeak”, “Hiramasa
平政 Amberjack/Yellowtail”, “Tori-gai 鳥貝 Egg-cockle/Heart-shell”, “Aoyagi 青柳 Surf-clam” “Hotaru-ika 蛍烏賊 Firefly squid”, “Shako
蝦蛄 Mantis shrimp/Squilla” and so on become “Neta”.
In
summer, “Aji
In
autumn, “Kohada
In
winter, “Neta” will be “Kajiki
“Maguro 鮪 Tuna”, “Karei 鰈 Flatfish”, “Awabi 鮑 Abalone”, “Ebi 海老/蝦 Shrimp/Prawn”, “Taco
「巻きずし」または「海苔巻」は、「巻き簾」を使って形作った円筒形の「すし」です。
“Makizushi”
is generally wrapped in “Nori 海苔 Seaweed” or “Usuyaki-tamago
薄焼き玉子
Thin omelet”.
“Futomaki
太巻
Thick roll” is a large round “Makizushi”, usually with nori on
the outside.
A
typical “Futomaki” is five to six centimeters (2 to 2 1⁄2 in) in diameter.
The fillings for “Futomaki” are used a few ingredients chosen for their
combination of tastes, textures and colors.
“Futomaki”
may utilize strips of “Kyuuri 胡瓜Cucumber”, “kampyō 干瓢 Dried gourd shavings”, “Tamagoyaki 玉子焼きOmelet, “Ikura イクラ Salmon roe”,
fresh seafood including “Maguro 鮪 Tuna”, “Oboro朧 Whitefish flakes”, “Shiitake 椎茸 Mushroom”, pickles
such as “Takuan 沢庵 Pickled radish” and so on.
“Hosomaki
細巻Thin roll” is a small cylindrical “Sushi” with “Nori” on the
outside.
A typical “Hosomaki” has a diameter of about 2.5 centimeters (1 in).
They
generally contain only one filling, often “Tuna”, “Cucumber”, “Kanpyō 干瓢Dried gourd shavings”.
“Kappa-maki
河童巻 Roll” is a kind of “Hosomaki” filled with cucumber.
The
“Kappa 河童 Hobgoblin in the water” likes cucumber,
so “Hosomaki” with cucumber is called “Kappa-maki ”.
Traditionally,
“Kappa-maki” can be eaten to clear the palate and improve your taste.
“Tekka-maki
鉄火巻 Roll” is a kind of “Hosomaki” filled with raw tuna and “Wasabi 山葵horseradish”.
It
actually originated as a quick snack like the sandwich to eat in gambling dens
called “Tekka-ba 鉄火場”.
“Negitoro-maki
“Kanpyō-maki”
is a kind of “Hosomaki” with sweet and boiled “Kanpyō”.
If you
simply say “Nori-maki 海苔巻き Roll”, it means “Kanpyō -maki”.
“Nattō-maki
納豆巻き Roll” is a kind of “Hosomaki” with seasoned groats “Nattō 納豆 Fermented soybeans”.
「軍艦巻軍艦巻」は特別なタイプのにぎり寿司です。
This
invention significantly expanded the repertoire of soft “Neta ネタ Topping/Ingredient” used in “Nigiri-zushi”.
An oval,
hand-formed “Sushi-meshi Rice” has a strip of “Nori のり Laver” wrapped around its perimeter to form a vessel that is filled
with some soft, easy to break or fine-chopped “Neta”.
1887年、アメリカ合衆国で最初の日本料理店「大和屋」がサンフランシスコに開店しました。
In 1887,
the first Japanese restaurant in the United States, “Yamatoya”, opened in San
Francisco.
In Los
Angeles (in an area called “Little Tokyo” now), a Japanese restaurant “Miharutei”
opened in 1893.
In
addition, a special sushi book “Sushi” was published in English.
In 1962,
a glass case for “Neta” crossed the Pacific Ocean, “Sushi bar すしバー” with a full-dressed counter opened in the long-established
Japanese restaurant “Kawafuku 川福”.
In the
1970s, “Sushi” was gradually accepted by Western societies, and in the latter
half of the 1970s it grew to be called the “Sushi boom”.
「裏巻」は、2つ以上の詰め物が入った中型の円筒形の「すし」です。
“Uramaki
裏巻 Inside-out roll” is a medium-sized cylindrical “Sushi” with two or
more fillings.
It was
developed as a result of the creation of “California Roll”, as a method
originally meant to hide “Nori 海苔 Laver”.
Optionally
“Shari” is coated by some other ingredients such as roe or toasted sesame
seeds.
Because
Japanese often eat “sushi” by hand and enjoy texture of “nori”, so “Uramaki” is
not popular in Japan.
「押し寿司」は、「箱寿司」とも呼ばれ、関西地方の「すし」で、特に大阪で人気の名物です。
A
block-shaped “Sushi” is formed using a wooden mold, called an “Oshi-bako 押し箱 Box”.
The
block is removed from the mold and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
「押しずし」では、すべての材料が調理または保存加工され、生の魚は決して使用されません。