{"id":62510,"date":"2020-09-01T11:17:24","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T02:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/sushi-names-in-japanese\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T17:14:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T08:14:59","slug":"sushi-names-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cotoacademy.com\/ja\/sushi-names-in-japanese\/","title":{"rendered":"Sushi in Japan – Sushi Names and Ordering Sushi in Japanese!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sushi is a landmark food in Japan and Japanese culture. For centuries, the people of Japan have eaten raw fish in various forms. Today, sushi is a popular Japanese dish around the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will look at some different types of sushi – and how to say them in Japanese!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Types of Sushi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1) Uramaki Sushi \u88cf\u5dfb\u304d\u5bff\u53f8\uff0f\u3046\u3089\u307e\u304d\u305a\u3057<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although Uramaki sushi (uramakizushi<\/em>) is very popular in the west – It is actually not very common in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word Uramaki is \u88cf \u2192 back and \u5dfb\u304d \u2192 roll. This is because the rice is on the outside and the seaweed on the inside. Popular Uramaki zushi rolls in the west are California rolls, dragon rolls, and others like them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Temaki Sushi \u624b\u5dfb\u304d\u5bff\u53f8\uff0f\u3066\u307e\u304d\u305a\u3057<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Temaki sushi \u624b\u5dfb\u304d\u5bff\u53f8 (temakisuzhi)<\/em> means “hand rolled sushi”. It is a popular house-party food, due to it being easy to serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the name implies, Temaki sushi is rolled up by hand. The seaweed is on the outside, and people can often customize what they want to put inside it. Next time you need to prepare dinner for a lot of people – consider serving Temaki sushi!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Maki Sushi \u5dfb\u304d\u5bff\u53f8\uff0f\u307e\u304d\u305a\u3057<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Similar to Temaki sushi, Maki sushi (makizushi<\/em>) is rolled with the seaweed on the outside, with rice inside and fish in the middle. Maki sushi is far more popular at sushi restaurants in Japan than uramaki sushi – and Maki sushi rolls are often eaten last due to their rich flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Sashimi \u523a\u8eab\uff0f\u3055\u3057\u307f<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sashimi is not quite sushi – it is raw fish (or meat), thinly sliced and often served on ice with soy sauce and wasabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However it is often served at Japanese sushi restaurants – as well as Japanese Izakaya! For this reason, we have included it in our list!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) Nigiri \u63e1\u308a\u5bff\u53f8\uff0f\u306b\u304e\u308a\u3059\u3057<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the most popular form of Japanese sushi in Japan. Often prepared by hand, and served as 2 pieces. Nigiri sushi is raw or cooked fish on top of a small ball of rice, sometimes with some wasabi inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maguro Sushi – Tuna<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u9baa (Maguro – tuna) has different options for flavor and texture depending on the part of the fish that it comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toro is the fatty part from the belly of the fish. Akami (\u8d64\u8eab) is the lean part from upper back. It is the most frequently-used part of the fish for sushi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u672c\u307e\u3050\u308d – honmaguro – is Pacific bluefin tuna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

S\u0101mon Sushi – Salmon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The \u30b5\u30fc\u30e2\u30f3 (s\u0101mon – salmon) used for making sashimi and sushi in Japan is Atlantic Salmon. Japanese sake\/shake (\u9bad) means Chum salmon (\u30b7\u30ed\u30b6\u30b1), and should not be eaten raw!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ikura (\u3044\u304f\u3089) is Salmon roe (eggs), and is quite expensive! It is often served on top of rice and inside seaweed with a cucumber – just like the picture above!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ika and Tako Sushi – Squid and Octopus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ika (\u70cf\u8cca\uff0f\u30a4\u30ab – squid) and Tako (\u86f8\uff0f\u30bf\u30b3 – octopus) are both considered “light” flavored fish. And yes, these are almost always served raw!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ebi Sushi – Shrimp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that Japanese sushi serves multiple types of shrimp (\u6d77\u8001\uff0f\u3048\u3073)???<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. \u6d77\u8001 – ebi – shrimp<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. \u7518\u3048\u3073 – amaebi – sweet shrimp (commonly served raw)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. \u307c\u305f\u3093\u6d77\u8001 – botan’ebi – Jumbo shrimp (plumper and larger than amaebi with similar taste.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. \u8eca\u6d77\u8001 – kurumaebi – Japanese tiger prawn (commonly used for Edomae\u00ad-style sushi)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Maki – Rolls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    \u7d30\u5dfb\/\u7d30\u5dfb\u304d Hosomaki diameter is around 3cm, and there is usually only one ingredient inside. It’s thin and rolled with nori and looks like a gun, which is why it’s also sometimes called \u9244\u7832\u5dfb\u304d (tepp\u014d-maki).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some common hosomaki are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. \u304b\u3093\u3074\u3087\u3046\u5dfb\u304d – kanpy\u014d maki – dried gourd roll.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. \u304b\u3063\u3071\u5dfb\u304d – kappa maki – cucumber roll.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. \u7d0d\u8c46\u5dfb – natt\u014d-maki – fermented soybean roll.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. \u9244\u706b\u5dfb – tekka maki – sliced raw tuna roll.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      There is also \u592a\u5dfb – futomaki – which is a thick roll of makizushi. With a diameter above 5cm, it can hold more than one kind of ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The \u7389\u5b50 (tamago – egg) sushi is often wrapped with some seaweed to hold it together. This is a sweeter piece of sushi – almost like a dessert!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Kai\/Gai – Shellfish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Shellfish (Kai\/Gai – \u8c9d) are also popular picks for sushi – especially the popular \u3046\u306b\uff01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Here are some different kinds of shellfish in Japanese:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. \u5e06\u7acb – \u307b\u305f\u3066- hotate – scallop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. \u8d64\u8c9d – \u3042\u304b\u304c\u3044 – akagai – red clam, ark shell.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. \u30db\u30c3\u30ad\u8c9d\/\u5317\u5bc4\u8c9d – \u307b\u3063\u304d\u304c\u3044 – hokkikai – Sakhalin surf clam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. \u3064\u3076\u8c9d -\u3064\u3076\u304c\u3044 – tsubugai – whelk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. \u6d77\u6817\/\u6d77\u80c6 – \u3046\u306b – uni – sea urchin\u200b.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Sakana – Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \"sushi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Here are some more types of sushi fish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. \u9b6c – \u306f\u307e\u3061 – hamachi – young yellowtail\u200b.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. \u9c24 – \u3076\u308a – buri – yellowtail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. \u7a74\u5b50 – \u3042\u306a\u3054 – anago – conger eel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. \u9bdb – \u305f\u3044 – tai – sea bream.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. \u9bf5 – \u3042\u3058 – aji – horse mackerel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. \u3048\u3093\u304c\u308f – engawa – flounder edge, fluke fin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        7. \u9bd6 – \u3055\u3070 – saba – mackerel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          The \u3048\u3093\u304c\u308f fish gets its name from the word for a veranda in a Japanese house that resembles a porch (\u7e01\u5074 – engawa). It is the meat at the base of a fin from \u30d2\u30e9\u30e1(hirame – flounder ) and \u30ab\u30ec\u30a4 (karei – righteye flounder.) It is a very precious part, and only 4 pieces can be taken from a single flounder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Ordering Sushi at a Restaurant in Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          Sushi restaurants in Japan usually fall into one of 2 categories: Conveyor belt sushi (\u56de\u8ee2\u5bff\u53f8) and over the counter sushi restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Conveyor belt sushi is fun and family friendly, but the quality is often lower than the over the counter sushi. It is more affordable and more convenient, however, making it an excellent option for a casual dinner out! These establishments often have touchscreen menus available, so you can order as you go until you are full!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          The over the counter sushi is an experience of it’s own. You can watch them make the sushi right in front of you before they pass it over the counter!
          These restaurants often offer sets – or “courses” – that are prepared by the sushi chef for your dining pleasure. You should eat the sushi as soon as you receive it for the best taste!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You can also order with “omakase!” (\u304a\u307e\u304b\u305b) – which means “I’ll leave it to you!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Sushi can be eaten with either chopsticks (\u304a\u306f\u3057\u30fcohashi) or bare hands. Either one is acceptable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Hopefully this article was able to provide you with useful information about sushi in Japan and Japanese sushi names! Maybe now you can try out ordering some new kinds of fish in Japanese next time you are at a sushi restaurant \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Learn to order sushi fluently by taking Japanese lessons with us!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t