🍱 Japanese Food Trivia Series – Part3 Why Is There Wasabi in Sushi? The Difference Between Japanese and Overseas Sushi

🐯 Story from a Friend: “Wasabi Burned My Brain!”

One of my American friends, Alex, told me a funny story from his first trip to Japan.
He sat down at a small sushi counter in Tokyo and ordered a plate of tuna nigiri. The sushi chef smiled and served it quietly.

But right after biting into it, Alex almost jumped out of his seat.

Alex

It was like a fire shot through my sinuses. I swear, I thought I ate a chunk of wasabi by accident!

KeeeeN-G

Actually, that wasn’t an accident. In Japan, wasabi is often already inside the sushi—especially nigiri.

Alex

Wait… what? You guys hide it?

Yes, we do. And there’s a reason for it.

🍣 Traditional Japanese Sushi: Balance, Not Overload

In Japan, sushi is more than raw fish on rice. It’s about harmony—between flavor, texture, and even temperature.

The wasabi is added between the fish and rice, not on top, and definitely not in huge amounts. It’s meant to:

• Kill bacteria “historically”
• Cut through the smell of fish
• Enhance the umami

Skilled sushi chefs adjust the amount of wasabi based on the fish. For example:

And in many cases, you don’t dip it in soy sauce like crazy.
Too much soy sauce or wasabi is seen as disrespecting the chef’s work.

🌍 Overseas Sushi: California Rolls and Personal Choice

In contrast, sushi outside Japan has taken on a whole new personality.
Think: California rolls, tempura rolls, rainbow rolls—colorful, flashy, often with mayonnaise or spicy sauce.

Most overseas sushi restaurants let customers decide:

• Wasabi on the side
• Soy sauce in a bowl
• Mix both together

That’s totally fine—it’s about preference. But when those customers come to Japan expecting the same… surprise!

I once met a tourist from France who said:

Tourist

I ordered sushi and thought they forgot the wasabi. But then my mouth exploded!

🤔 Why Do Japanese People Hide Wasabi Inside?

It’s all about technique and tradition.

Historically, sushi evolved from a street food into a refined culinary art.
The chefs take great pride in preparing each bite to be perfect without the customer needing to adjust much.

So, hiding wasabi inside:

• Ensures balance
• Prevents overpowering
• Keeps the experience clean and minimal

It’s subtle—but sushi in Japan is all about subtlety.

🧪 What You Can Try in Japan

If you’re visiting Japan, try:

• Sitting at the counter and letting the chef serve “omakase ‘chef’s choice’ “
• Not asking for extra soy sauce or wasabi
• Focusing on texture, temperature, and how flavors shift over time

You might discover sushi in a completely new way—less about sauce, more about craftsmanship.

💬 What Surprised You?

Let me know:
Did you know wasabi is inside the sushi in Japan?
Have you tried sushi abroad and compared it with sushi here?

P.S.

Let’s continue the journey of discovering the deeper layers of Japanese cuisine.
Next time: How the same dish can taste totally different in East and West Japan!

またね(Matane)!