To understand how sushi is traditionally consumed in Japan, let’s compare how it’s eaten in the United States.
While sushi in the U.S. has become fundamentally Americanized, the differences between Japan have diminished in recent decades. Here are a few of the distinctions:
In Japan, sushi is still mostly eaten at small, bar-style eateries rather than traditional table-seating restaurants.
Japanese sushi bars typically don’t have the same variety of sushi their American counterparts have.
It’s not uncommon for patrons to order their sushi piece by piece in Japan with a roll coming at the end of a meal. In America, we tend to order bigger with sushi rolls being part of the main dish.
When it comes to eating sushi etiquette, it could be construed as impolite towards the chef to add wasabi to your sushi in Japan. It’s even believed by some traditionalists that the use of chopsticks diminishes the experience.
When using hands to eat sushi, you’d likely see the person picking up a piece between their thumb and middle finger, while using their pointer finger to hold the piece together if needed.
Wasabi is sometimes added to sushi in the making of rolls, but it wasn’t usually mixed with soy sauce for a variety of culinary reasons. Namely, it messes with the natural flavors of the fish and rice.
When wasabi is added to sushi, it’s often done so by Japanese in a small amount on one side of the piece, allowing the opposite side to be dipped in soy. This allows for a proper balance of flavors and lets you taste different flavor profiles without overwhelming your senses with wasabi’s spiciness.
Ginger is served as a palate cleanser so that you can appreciate the different seafood and preparation that goes into each piece of sushi. You eat the ginger between different pieces, which gives tastebuds a reboot.