Random Sushi Post

This is a post for the folks back home. Before I came to Japan, I didn't much like sushi. I don't know if that is because it just took time to adjust my tastes or if the sushi i had eaten in America was low quality. Whatever the case, I love it now. Not every kind, but most. In fact, I have reached a point where cooked fish grosses me out a little. It just seems more natural in sushi form.

Here is a typical plate of sushi in this region:


From left to right, top to bottom are mackerel, tuna, abalone, crab, scallop, salmon, shrimp, fish egg (I don't know which kind of fish), sea urchin, and ginger for flavor. These are all raw except, I believe, the crab (and possibly the shrimp.. I need to do more research). Noticably missing is squid, which this area is known for and is quite delicious. Everything on the plate tastes good, though the texture of some (the eggs and the sea urchin) is a bit unpleasant.

I prefer sushi in this form, with the meat on top of the rice, over being wrapped in seaweed. I also like sashimi, where there is just meat and no rice. Anyway, enough rambling. Here is a picture of maizushi, an amazing, somewhat expensive sushi restaurant in the town of Higashidori. There is no menu, just a sushi chef and his wife who bring you food until you can eat no more. Frequented by salarymen and fishermen getting drunk off of Japanese beer and sake, it is the ultimate Japanese experience. I'm sure I'll take better pictures of it to post another day.