The History Of Sushi

3 min read

Sushi is an ancient dish that has its origins as far back as the 1st Century BC. One popular folktale of its origins is that of an elderly woman hiding her pots of rice in osprey nests for fear that someone would steal them. Over time, the rice began to ferment and mixed with the fish scraps present from the osprey’s meals. This resulted in a tasty meal, as well as a new preservation method for fish.

The word sushi is said to come from a Japanese term that referred to the vinegared, fermented rice, instead of the actual raw fish. When looking at the history and origin of sushi, this reference makes sense. Be sure to have a look at our handy know-your-sushi guide if you want to brush up on your terminology!

Narezushi is the oldest form of what we would consider sushi and comes from the ancient rice paddy fields of China. This was a dish that consisted of fermented rice and salted sushi. The fermentation and saltiness required for the dish was to preserve the fish as much as possible, due to a lack of cooling options. The rice was actually not eaten, but simply used as a storage method for the fish.

As time went on, both travel and emperors expanding their land resulted in this dish intermingling with Japanese cuisine. The first mention of sushi was made in 718 in the Yōrō Code, an iteration of governing rules from the early Nara period in Japan. Over the next centuries, the Japanese began to ferment their rice with rice vinegar, as this sped up the process of fermentation. They would pair this with raw fish and consume it fresh – this was called namanare. This became prolific during the Muromachi period and resulted in a new dish in Japanese cuisine, rather than one of fermentation.

A third type of sushi was invented during the Edo period – haya-zushi or ‘fast sushi’. The rice was no longer fermented, but rather mixed with vinegar, fish, vegetables, and dried food stuff. During the 18th-century multiple sushi restaurants and food stalls opened in Edo (now Tokyo). Hanaya Yohei (1799 to 1858) is an important name in the modernising of sushi, as he is the recognised inventor of nigiri (a ball of rice with a sliver of raw fish on top). He also helped to popularise the use of tuna in sushi. His nigirizushi was slightly different to what we count as nigiri today, as he marinated the fish in soy sauce or vinegar. His dishes soon became popular around the world.

Courtesy of discovernikkei.org

Sushi was introduced to the West through Japanese migrants after the Meiji Restoration, with first mentions of sushi in English happening around the latter quarter of the 1800s. This introduction seemed to have happened in America first and sushi was only popular amongst the upper class in the early 1900s. It soon declined in popularity due to anti-Japanese immigration restrictions, which led to a negative attitude towards Japanese cuisine. It was only in the years after the Second World War that sushi and Japanese cuisine became more accepted and accessible. The Kawafuku Restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, is credited as the first ‘true’ sushi bar in America, as it was the first to have a fully trained sushi chef in the country.

As for the rest of the Western world, sushi was said to have been at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 in the United Kingdom. It is thought that sushi was introduced to Australia between the 1970s and 1980s.

Today sushi has become a favourite dish across the world, with new inventions being made and the cuisine form constantly evolving. Our sushi chef at Blowfish, JJ, frequently experiments with new combinations and flavours, leaving us with a menu that pays homage to the classics, while simultaneously pushing the boundaries. If you would like to learn more about how to make sushi, we have sushi workshops that are great team-building excursions, celebration activities, or friendly get-togethers!

Whether you are a sushi connoisseur or an absolute newbie, we have something for everyone at Blowfish! We can’t wait to welcome you to our restaurant for your next delicious meal.