Mehari-zushi: Wakayama’s Traditional Wide-Eye Sushi

So, what is mehari-zushi? Though sushi is in its name, it is quite different from what most imagine when one says “sushi”. Mehari-zushi is a rice ball covered with pickled takana or Japanese red mustard. 

The mountainous region of Kumano region and Shingu, located on the tip of Kii peninsula, often experiences hard frosts in the winter. It is these frosts that make their red mustard particularly tasty.

In ancient times, people would make the rice balls very big; roughly the size of a softball! Its original size was so big people would describe it by saying [目を見張るほど大き], lit. me wo miharuhodo oki. Thus, mehari-zushi (wide-eyed sushi) was born.

Even though the mustard leaves are fermented, they do not have a very strong fermented flavor. Rather, it still has a mild vegetable-like flavor. If you or your traveling companions are picky eaters, or simply a bit wary of Japanese food, mehari-zushi is pretty mild as far as traditional Japanese dishes go.

Originating from Wakayama’s Kumano region, this dish is so popular that you can find it in many places throughout the Kansai region also offer it.