Sushi, a culinary icon of Japan, holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers around the world. You may have visited renowned sushi establishments, but have you experienced the latest trends shaping Tokyo’s sushi scene in 2024? Join us as we explore the city’s most sought-after sushi destinations, where tradition meets innovation.
About Sushi
Sushi, a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, is a harmonious blend of vinegared rice (shari) and various toppings (neta), primarily seafood. Chefs often serve it with wasabi, and it comes in a delightful variety of forms, each with its own unique history and preparation techniques.
What is Sushi?
The term “sushi” covers a wide variety of dishes. Nigiri (hand-pressed sushi), maki (rolled sushi), oshi (pressed sushi), chirashi (scattered sushi), and inari (sushi rice in fried tofu pouches) are among the most popular. While seafood such as tuna, salmon, and shrimp are common toppings, sushi chefs also incorporate other ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and eggs to create innovative flavor combinations.
The history of sushi dates back over a thousand years, originating in Southeast Asia as a method of preserving fish. Over time, sushi evolved, and by the Edo period (1603-1867), it had become a popular fast food among the common people. Today, people around the world enjoy sushi, with countless variations and regional specialties.
The Evolution of Sushi
The earliest form of sushi, known as narezushi, consisted of fermenting fish with rice and salt. People would throw away the rice and eat only the fermented fish. This method of preservation allowed people to enjoy fish for longer periods of time, especially in regions where fresh seafood was scarce.
Over time, the process evolved and Japanese began to eat the rice along with the fish. In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), “namanare” emerged, with partially fermented fish and rice that people could eat together. This marked a significant change in the preparation and consumption of sushi.
During the Edo period, sushi underwent another transformation with the introduction of vinegar to flavor the rice. This innovation enhanced the flavor and shortened the preparation time, making sushi more accessible. The invention of nigiri sushi, in which chefs place a slice of fish on hand-pressed vinegared rice, further revolutionized the sushi scene. This paved the way for the diverse and creative sushi we enjoy today.
The Tabelog Award
“The Tabelog Award is an annual restaurant award. It is decided by regular diners, not food critics. The top restaurants for 2023 were selected from around 850,000 restaurants across the country. They received the highest ratings from Tabelog users and were awarded ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’, ‘Bronze’ or ‘Category Award’. As the food industry continues to recover, we celebrate the chefs who are passionate about creating delicious food and the people who love to eat it.
For more information about this Award, click here.
456 restaurants were nominated. Among them, here are 6 sushi restaurants in Tokyo that won “Gold” for “The Tabelog Award 2024”:
Mitani
This is the restaurant’s 8th consecutive year winning the award and 6th consecutive year winning “Gold”.
“A must-try for sushi lovers. The sushi toppings and rice paired with rare sake is amazing. Mr. Mitani always strives to make the best sushi possible. The original tableware is also beautiful. This is one of my top 3 sushi restaurants.” – 味のおざ平さん
