This is Megan Greene with another Postcard from Asia from the KU Center for East Asian Studies.

So is sushi raw fish or what? And if sushi is raw fish, then what the heck is sashimi? This Postcard is devoted to clearing up, once and for all, any lingering confusion about these two popular dishes from Japan. Sushi refers to the vinegared rice used in this finger food and the term arises from a grammatical form of a word no longer in use that means “it’s sour.” Sashimi is the raw component: the fish tartare in most cases although some Japanese also eat chicken sashimi. Sushi was invented as a “fast food” at the end of the Edo Period, around the mid-nineteenth century. It can be rolled in seaweed, served in clumps or stuffed in tofu pouches and can be eaten with a variety of toppings including sashimi. Now go forth and order with confidence!

With thanks to Randi Hacker for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, I’m Megan Greene. Wish you were here.