Japanese Sushi
Sushi is white Japanese rice mixed with vinegar, salt and other ingredients usually topped with raw fish. Vinegar is used for sour taste as well as preservation to keep freshness of sushi. It is said that modern sushi was created by Yohei Hanaya during Edo Period in 19th century. Today Sushi is still referred as Edomae Sushi as sushi was made with fish caught from Edo Mae (Tokyo Bay) in Edo Period. Clumps of rice formed by sushi chef topped with raw fish is called Nigiri Sushi. Raw fish alone is called sashimi and different from sushi. Sushi rolled around dried seaweed is called Maki Sushi. Big bowl of sushi rice scattered toppings is called Chirashi Sushi.
Nigirizushi comes with sushi rice usually topped with raw fish with wasabi ( bitter green paste). There are variety of raw fish used for nigirizushi and popular menu includes tuna, shrimp, squid, salmon and yellow tale. Gunkanmaki, a special type of Makizushi, comes with sushi rice topped with raw fish or other ingredients wrapped by Nori (dried seaweed). Ikura (salmon roe) and Uni (Sea urchin) are very popular Gunkanmaki. Sushi generally comes in pairs, but some sushi restaurants serve just one piece so you may want to confirm when ordering. The price varies depending on types of fish. For instance, the price of Ootoro (fatty tuna) could be more than double or triple of regular tuna. The price also varies type of sushi restaurants. The price is quite reasonable at Kaiten Sushi restaurants that serves sushi in small plate revolving in front of customers tables and customers can pick any dishes they like. A pair of tuna piece cost around 100 Yen or 1 USD.
On the other hand, fatty tuna can cost more than 1,000 Yen or 10 USD (usually market price so it can be more expensive) at prestigious sushi restaurants such as Kyubei in Ginza, Tokyo. Gunkanmaki was actually created by Kyubei and many rich executives go to the restaurant to enjoy the best class of sushi. I and my colleagues went to Kyubei together with our expatriate boss who wants to eat very good sushi. Apparently the price was more than he expected and he ended up ordering inexpensive sushi instead of his favorite fatty tuna and salmon roe. I wanted to try the famous fatty tuna, but tried not to order one as our boss may have been upset. 
Although we couldn't enjoy the fatty tuna, the quality of sushi is excellent at Kyubei and our boss took the bill for us!
Although we couldn't enjoy the fatty tuna, the quality of sushi is excellent at Kyubei and our boss took the bill for us!
