Sushi is vinegared rice combined with ingredients such as raw fish, shellfish or cooked egg. There are four basic types of sushi. Nigirizushi is made of a small handful of sushi rice with a bit of wasabi and a slice of raw fish on top. It is also called Edomaezushi. Instead of fish, it may have octopus (tako), shrimp(ebi), salmon roe (ikura), sea urchin (uni), or squid.

To eat it, dip it lightly in soy sauce. Eat it in one mouthful. Makizushi, rolled sushi, is rolled into a cylinder. Common fillings include raw tuna and cucumber. The outside is a sheet of toasted nori. Chirashizushi is sushi rice served in a bowl. It comes in two types. One has seafood, vegetables and sliced omelet on top of the vinegared rice. The other type has the vinegared rice and other ingredients all mixed together with shredded omelet on top. Oshizushi, “pressed” sushi, is a specialty from the Kansai region. Marinated seafood and vinegared rice are pressed into a box-like wooden mold. Then it is cut into bite-sized pieces for serving. In Japanese culture, a person who can skillfully eat and take pleasure in sushi made from ingredients in season is said to be a sophisticated, stylish person.