Sushi Etiquette in Japan
One of the things that sushi newcomers are always unsure about is sushi etiquette. Should you eat it with your hands or with chopsticks? Should you mix wasabi in the soy sauce? How much wasabi is too much? Here in the U.S., the tradition of sushi etiquette has evolved to make it more accepting of different techniques. Eat with your hands, eat with chopsticks, whatever you’re most comfortable with! But in Japan, they take their sushi very seriously. So here’s a look at sushi etiquette as it’s done in the home of sushi.
Japanese Sushi Etiquette
Hands-on and Upside-Down
In Japan, sushi lovers pick up their sushi with their hands. They then flip it upside down before dipping it into the soy sauce. Why? To prevent the rice base from falling apart in the sauce. In addition, rice absorbs more sauce than the fish, which upsets the flavor balance. You only want a little soy sauce, because the sushi chef has already gone to a lot of trouble to make the perfect balance of flavors.
Use Ginger to Cleanse the Palate
Ginger (also known as gari) is used to cleanse the palate in between different fish. For example, if you’re switching from a fish with a strong flavor such as tuna to a fish with a more mild flavor, eat a little ginger in between. This ensures you get the full flavor of all the fish.
Wasabi: To Dip, or Not to Dip?
Lots of people like to add a little wasabi to their soy sauce. In Japan, this can be done with sashimi (which is raw fish without rice) but not with sushi.
In addition, there’s the matter of how much wasabi is too much. Generally, you’re expected to use the amount of wasabi you’re given. This goes back to the idea that the sushi chef has gone to great lengths to create the perfect balance of flavors. Wasabi is supposed to be used sparingly, and adding too much is thought to ruin this balance of flavors. If you ask for extra wasabi in Japan, the sushi chef will give it to you, but you’ll be exposed as a sushi novice.
Chopsticks
Most sushi restaurants in Japan provide their customers with chopsticks, but there’s a debate about whether or not they should be used. Sushi afficionados swear by the hands. One of the main arguments is that many people don’t hold chopsticks correctly, which not only makes eating sushi more difficult, but also can ruin the delicately constructed sushi. However, there are many people in Japan who prefer chopsticks.
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