Vegan Sushi for Those Who Don’t Eat Seafood

In Japan, being vegan can seem quite challenging, especially when you consider how deeply animal proteins are integrated into modern Japanese cuisine.  Sushi, in particular, might feel like one of the hardest dish to make vegan-friendly.

However, in Koshi, there is a type of sushi that caters to those who can’t or prefer not to eat seafood.

While many vegan or vegetarian dishes are designed to mimic made the taste and look of meat, this sushi is different.

It wasn’t created specifically for vegans, but for everyone living in the area.  So, it is not only delicious, but also visually stunning.

The official name is Tosa Inaka Sushi, which refers to hand-pressed sushi made with sansai (wild mountain vegetables) and other ingredients from the mountains.  While Kochi is often associated with the Pacific Ocean, the prefecture is also rich in mountainous regions that stretch close to the coastline.  The people in these mountain areas created this unique sushi using ingredients available to them.

Another key feature of this sushi is the use of yuzu in place of rice vinegar for the vinegar rice.  Yuzu,a citrus fruit Kochi is proud of, is beloved by chefs worldwide because it doesn’t overpower other ingredients like lemon or lime does.  It offers a fragrant aroma and contains three times more vitamin C than lemons, providing both brightening and antioxidant benefits.

Since Tosa Sushi is traditionally a homemade dish, it’s hard to find in restaurants around Kochi City.  It occasionally appears at the Sunday Market held in the city, but it’s not very accessible to tourists unless you already know about it.

However, thanks to the efforts of Tosayamada Shopping Center Co., Ltd., this sushi is now available in frozen form, making it possible for anyone to enjoy it, both across Japan and even abroad!

The unique taste and texture of this sushi will leave you craving more!