The Evolution of Sushi

Sushi has been around for many centuries now, but it has been slowly evolving along the way. The evolution of sushi actually surprises me on how it first started out to be, to where it leads to right now. When sushi first started, it was a way to preserve food and make it portable. The trend caught on as rice cultivation spread over the sea and northward from Southeast Asia. Different cultures have their unique additions to the basic recipe and arrangement of what was, for a time, called Funa-zhushi (Sushi Now).

Seventh century-Sushi had made its way to Japan, where seafood has historically been a staple. The Japanese took the concept further and began to eat the rice with the fish. Originally, the dish was prepared in much the same manner (Sushi FAQ).

15^th century-The fermentation techniques became faster. Preservation that used to take six months or more, now only took one month and rancid rice that once was discarded, could now be eaten.  These sushi styles are very different than the one that we are familiar with today. The fermentation sushi techniques were invited to preserve the fish. Currently in Japan, there is a similar style of this fermented sushi that still exists, and it’s known as Nare-zushi. Nare-zushi is basically fish that has been fermented by wrapping it in fermenting sour rice so it gives off an acquired taste (On The Gas).

17^th century-Matsumoto Yoshiichi (a medical doctor) discovered a style of sushi that was termed as haya-zushi. This style is simply adding rice vinegar to the cooked rice and shortened the fermentation time down to about 24 hours. By adding rice vinegar, it gives the fish more tender and flavor of the rice (On The Gas).

18^th century-“Sushi we know today as Nigiri sushi came to be. Hanaya Tohei found the ‘Eddoko’ (people of Edo-Tokyo) were looking for something they could eat ‘on the go’ or as a quick meal and it was then that sushi became the world’s first fast food. The rice was salted and vinegared after cooking, and the fish was applied fresh. Sushi was made for the masses and served in outdoor kiosks all over Tokyo”
(On The Gas).

19^th century-Hanaya Yohei discovery of Nigiri sushi conceived a major change in the production and presentation of his sushi. No longer wrapping the fish in rice, he placed a piece of fresh fish on top of an oblong shaped piece of seasoned rice. At that time, sushi was served from sushi stalls on the street and was meant to be a snack or quick bite to eat on the go. Served from his stall, this was not only the first of the real 'fast food' sushi, but quickly became wildly popular. This style of serving sushi rapidly spread throughout Japan, and aided by the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923. After World War Two, the sushi stalls were shut down and moved indoors, to more sanitary conditions. More formal seating was later provided and sushi changed from 'fast food' to a true dining experience. Sushi spread around the globe, and with the advent of the promotion of seafood, this unusual style of serving fish was quickly adopted by the western cultures (Sushi FAQ).

Sushi was first served in the United States in the early 1900s following an influx of Japanese immigration after the Meiji Restoration. The first American sushi restaurants appeared in the early 1960s, most notably in major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and New York City. The California roll was invented in Los Angeles by substituting a slice of avocado for the seasonal toro (fatty tuna) in a traditional maki roll (Wikipedia).

As sushi evolve in different cultures, the preparation and ingredient still remain the same. For example, sushi rice for Americans are a little sweeter to meet the world-famous American sweet tooth. Sushi has changed in the same way that other cuisines are altered in the United States, but changes is not always bad. This evolved sushi has traveled back to Japan for traveling Americans and for the many Japanese who want to experience what has become foreign food. Even though sushi has been around for hundred of years, it is still evolving in many parts of the world today to meet everyone's expectation. Just thinking back to how sushi first started, and where it is now, also sets a high expectation to what future might hold. It started out having to wait several months and preserving the meat, to eating the rice with the fish is just crazy to think. Honestly I like the evolution, and I can't wait to see how sushi is going to be like in the future.

Websites Used:
http://www.sushifaq.com/basic-sushi-experience-information/the-history-of-sushi/
http://onthegas.org/food/the-sushi-evolution-how-sushi-evolved-over-time
http://sushinow.com/history.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sushi