Original Sushi

The original type of Sushi, classified today as nare-zushi (馴れ寿司, 熟寿司), first developed somewhere in Southeast Asia, disseminating to Japan. Fish was salted and wrapped in fermented rice, a traditional lacto-fermented rice dish. Nare-zushi was made of this gutted fish stored in fermented rice for preservation. Nare-zushi was stored for fermentation for a few months then removed. The fermented rice was discarded and fish was the only part consumed. This early Sushi became a great source of protein.

The Japanese preferred to eat the fish with the rice, known as namanare or namanari (生成, なまなれ, なまなり). During the Muromachi period namanare was the most popular type of sushi. Namanare was partly raw fish wrapped in rice, consumed fresh, before it lost its flavor. This new way of consuming fish was no longer a form of preservation but rather a new dish in Japanese cuisine.

During the Edo era (the early modern period, 1603 to 1868 in Japan), a third type of Sushi was introduced, haya-zushi (早寿司, 早ずし). Haya-zushi was assembled so that both rice and fish could be consumed at the same time, and the dish became unique to Japanese culture. It was the first time that rice was not being used for fermentation. Rice was now mixed with vinegar. Fish, vegetables and dried preserved foods would be added. This type of sushi is still very popular today. Each region utilizes local flavors to produce a variety of Sushi that has been passed down for many generations.

When Tokyo was still being called Edo, at the beginning of the 19th century, mobile food stalls became the dominant food service. During this period nigiri-zushi (握り寿司) was introduced. Nigiri-zushi is the most common type of sushi in the todays Sushi restaurants. It is an oblong mound of rice with a slice of fish draped over it. After the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923, nigiri- Sushi chefs lost their jobs and spread throughout Japan and popularised the dish throughout the country.

Today the Sushi dish internationally known as "Sushi" (nigirizushi; Kantō variety) is a fast food invented by Hanaya Yohei (華屋与兵衛; 1799 - 1858) at the end of Edo period in today's Tokyo (Edo). People in Tokyo were living in haste even a hundred years ago. The nigirizushi invented by Hanaya was not fermented and could be eaten using the fingers or chopsticks. It was an early form of fast food that could be eaten at a road side or in the theater.

Funazushi
Funazushi is a rare type of nare-zushi still prepared near lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture. Eighteen generations of the Kitamura family have been preparing the dish (with eggs intact) at Kitashina since 1619.

Fresh funa (crucian carp from the lake) are scaled and gutted through their gills keeping the body (and often the eggs) of the fish intact. The fish are then packed with salt and aged for a year before being repacked annually in rice for up to four years. The resulting fermented fish may be served sliced thin or used as an ingredient in other dishes.

Source : en.wikipedia


See also:
Dim Sum
Soto