Is Sushi Japanese, Korean, or Chinese? | Matsuhisa (2024)

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Is Sushi Japanese, Korean, or Chinese? | Matsuhisa? ›

Today's sushi is most often associated with Japanese culture, though the many variations of sushi can actually be traced to numerous countries and cultures including Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

Even though Japan is the sushi capital, where most tourists love this dish, sushi originated in China, along the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. It began as Narezushi, a dish whose main ingredients were fermented rice and salted fish. It is known as the foundation of sushi.

Norimaki, or rolled sushi, may have emerged in Japan in 1716. The Japanese had developed sophisticated handmade paper techniques used to make the sheets of seaweed called nori. However, Koreans had been wrapping cooked rice in consumable seaweed as well. Nori is a three-course meal in a single bite.

Sushi is quite popular with the Chinese, both in the states with ABCs as well as in the mainland.

Japan

Sushi / Place of origin

For many sushi lovers, it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that this delicious food has a fairly complex history. Today's sushi is most often associated with Japanese culture, though the many variations of sushi can actually be traced to numerous countries and cultures including Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

The name kimbap (gimbap) translates as seaweed (kim) and rice (bap). You might also hear kimbap being called 'Korean sushi' due to the similarity in appearance, but it's a shame to call kimbap this, as kimbap has its own distinctiveness.

Sushi is a collection of rice, vegetables, and cooked or raw fish that can pack a nutritious punch. Research has suggested that eating sushi may boost everything from gut health to thyroid and immune function.

This may be shocking to you, as most people assume that sushi was first created in Japan. However, this is not the case. While Japan is certainly the sushi capital of the world – and responsible for introducing the dish to travelers – sushi traces its origins back to a Chinese dish called narezushi.

Sushi is one of the ways people might eat raw fish. However, it's best to limit or eliminate raw fish from your diet. Consuming raw or partially cooked seafood can increase your risk of exposure to bacteria, parasites, and pollutants that can make you sick.

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The earliest form of the dish, today referred to as narezushi, was created in Japan around the Yayoi period (early Neolithic–early Iron Age). In the Muromachi period (1336–1573), people began to eat the rice as well as the fish.

It's pretty safe to say that sushi is Japan's most well-known cuisine. Known for its fresh, light flavors, it has become wildly popular worldwide over the last century. There are even cases of other cultures paying homage to it by creating their takes on sushi.

The History of Sushi. Sushi is said to have originated in China between the 5th and the 3rd centuries BC, as a means of preserving fish in salt. Narezushi, the original form of sushi, has been made in South East Asia for centuries, and nowadays, there are still traces of it in some parts.

The biggest distinction is that Western sushi tends to lean towards bold colours and strong flavours, rather than the subtler shades and flavour notes of its Japanese counterpart where the simple tastes of the fish and the rice are at the forefront enhanced by delicate seasonings like akasu and dashi.

Chinese food is often seen as hearty and filling, with a focus on using bold flavors and spices to create complex dishes. Japanese food, on the other hand, is more refined and delicate, with a focus on simplicity and balance.

According to some, sushi was first consumed by Japanese people around the Edo period (1603-1868). It all began with the mass production and consumption of soy sauce. This was a significant breakthrough for Japan. The combination of raw fish and soy sauce preserves the freshness.