sushi roll mat, bamboo
date: label: date made
content: unknown
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This is a bamboo sushi mat, called ‘makisu’ in Japanese, which is made of individual pieces of bamboo threaded together to create a mat for sushi rolling. The term ‘maki’ stems from the verb ‘maku’, which means ‘to roll’ in Japanese. This type of bamboo sushi mats are typically used to roll ‘makizushi’, a type of rolled sushi that consists of nori (seaweed), vinegared rice and a selected fish or vegetable. Typically, a sheet of nori (seaweed) is placed on top of the mat. Then, a layer of vinegared rice is placed on top of the nori, followed by a horizontal line of fish or vegetables above the rice. The mat is carefully rolled and pressure is applied to form the shape of the roll. The roll can then be sliced to create several pieces of makizushi. When the California roll was invented in the 70s, the ‘uramaki’ method was used to hide the nori, as the black color of the seaweed was unfamiliar to the general clientele. When making the ‘uramaki’, which litteraly translates to ‘inside out roll’, saran wrap is placed on top of the makisu before the rice to prevent it from sticking. Then, the nori is place on top of the rice, and the selected choice of fish or vegetable on top of that before it is rolled. Though the makisu is most often used to roll makizushi, it is also traditionally used in Japanese cooking to shape foods like omelets, or to squeeze out excess liquids from foods.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: World
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Asian Pacific American Business
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2012.0137.05
label: catalog number
content: 2012.0137.05
label: accession number
content: 2012.0137
objectType: label: Object Name
content: mat
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: bamboo (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: thread (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 9 3/4 in x 9 9/16 in; 24.765 cm x 24.28875 cm