Authentic Sushi

Someone on FB was asking, so I answered.

Futomaki and inari (without complicated fillings), is the OG Japanese American sushi from the early 1900s to the 1980s. The other common one, which seems to be the main sushi at temple and church bazaars until the 1990s, was chirashizushi, which is more like a mixed rice pilaf/salad with sushi rice. The 1980s and later, it’s nigiri like they have at restaurants.

There really isn’t anything “authentic”, except what people consider authentic.

Prior to the 1970s, Japanese people in America were largely disliked and suffered racism, and the culture and food were denigrated. So “authenticity” was what people in a largely segregated community considered authentic.

The big three:

Futomaki

Inari

Chirashi

This isn’t exactly how we made it, but it’s close.