Sushi, Sushi, By the Seashore Trivia Quiz

Answer: Japan

Yes, the land of the rising sun is the source of sushi. The word consists of two characters: "Su", meaning longevity, and "Shi", meaning director or official. I'm not sure why they used those two, but they sound nice.

Answer: rice with a garnish of egg, vegetables, fish, etc.

Maybe that one wasn't so obvious to everyone. Sushi is not simply raw fish, as many commonly assume. The consistent ingredient in sushi is the vinegar-flavored rice that is used. This can be accompanied by fish (raw or cooked), egg, vegetables, or really just about anything.

Answer: Nigiri

Nigiri refers to the ball of rice on the bottom. In Japan, people regularly eat something called "Onigiri", or rice balls (different from sushi). They are usually triangular, filled with something (often fish), and wrapped in nori (seaweed paper).

Answer: Maki

"Maki" literally means "roll" in Japanese. To make it, you lay out a sheet of nori (seaweed wrapper), spread rice on it, and then add the filling. You would then roll it up so it is a long cylinder. "Harumaki" is spring roll. "Tatsumaki" is tornado.

Nigiri is the other type of sushi, with a slab of fish (or something else) laid over a ball of rice. Anpan is bread with a sweet bean paste inside.

Answer: Sashimi is just raw fish, no rice. Sushi always has rice.

Sashimi is simply slices of raw fish. I have personally never seen cooked sashimi, or even ever heard of it. Most people eat it with soy sauce mixed with wasabi. You can get many types of sashimi, from raw tuna and salmon, to raw squid and octopus. Yum!

Answer: Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)

Wasabi is some powerful stuff. You don't need much to get a nice spicy kick out of your sushi (or sashimi). Mix it in with your soy sauce, dip your sushi, and you're ready to eat! Be careful, though -- often nigiri sushi already has a dollop of wasabi on it, so you could get a double dose.

Answer: Ginger

Ginger prepared for use with sushi is called "Gari". Ginger is sliced thin, then marinated in a sugar and vinegar solution. It is sometimes dyed pink with beet juice for a nicer presentation; undyed gari is a yellowish color.

It is not intended to be eaten with sushi. Rather, it is a palate-cleanser, eaten between different types of sushi.

Answer: Fugu (pufferfish)

Fugu has a poisonous substance called tetrodotoxin in some of its organs. If these organs are cut during the preparation of the fish, the meat becomes contaminated and can kill a human. Japan has strict laws regarding the preparation of fugu, yet there are still a few fatalities every year.

In researching this quiz (July 2012), I found a reference to "poisonless fugu". Seems some smart people have figured out how to breed the fish safely. Hope this question doesn't become moot too soon!

Answer: Kaiten sushi

Kaiten is generally translated as conveyor belt. It IS a little disconcerting, as many restaurants don't have sneeze guards to protect the food as it goes around. Still, it's a lot of fun, and often not much more expensive than going to a fast food place. And, if you don't see what you want, you can make requests and the chef will make a plate for you.

Answer: Yes, but it isn't very common.

Some animals are eaten live in Japan. Usually, it is shrimp or shellfish, though whole fish are also sometimes served sliced, but still moving (look up ikizukuri). I have even seen shows on TV where they go out in a fishing boat, catch a fish or squid, then cut it up and eat it while it is still alive. I'm not a big fan of that kind of thing, but some people love it.

Still, it is not commonly offered on most menus. You would generally have to look for a specialty shop or a higher end restaurant. If you're into that sort of thing...