Etiquette

How to Eat Sushi

Unlike sashimi, nigirizushi is traditionally eaten with fingers, even in formal dining settings. The following customs are part of sushi dining culture as described on Wikipedia.

1. Unlike sashimi, which is eaten with chopsticks, nigirizushi is traditionally eaten with the fingers, even in formal settings.
2. Soy sauce serves as the standard condiment. Traditional etiquette dictates that sushi should be inverted so only the topping contacts the sauce, not the rice.
3. The rice is already seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, salt, mirin, and kombu. Dipping the rice directly into soy sauce causes it to absorb too much and become damaged.
4. Conventionally, the sushi chef determines the appropriate amount of wasabi during preparation, and diners were not expected to add more.
5. Modern practice has shifted this approach. Today, wasabi is a matter of individual preference, and many Japanese restaurants serve it separately, allowing customers to add it according to their taste.
6. Gari, or sweet pickled ginger, is consumed between courses to cleanse the palate and support digestion. It is not placed on top of the sushi.
7. Green tea invariably accompanies sushi service in Japan. In sushi terminology, green tea is referred to as agari.