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Have you ever mixed a bit of wasabi into your soy sauce and dipped your sushi into it? If you have, you’ve committed a culinary taboo that’s frowned upon in the dining world, according to news shared widely in Japan recently.
Sushi Sasaya Korin, a sushi restaurant in Kyoto’s Pontocho district, is one such establishment that believes wasabi should not be mixed with soy sauce, andItamae Sushi Edoin Tokyo’s upmarket Minato Ward also holds the same opinion.
The reason why the practice is discouraged is becausedissolving wasabi in soy sauce is said to not only sully the soy sauce, but also diminish the spiciness and aroma of the wasabi.
Mixing wasabi with soy sauce is known as wasabi joyu, an amalgamation of the words wasabi and shoyu the Japanese word for soy sauce. According toSushi Sasaya Korin,wasabi joyuisa violation of etiquettenot only when it comes to sushi butall Japanese food in generalas the two should always be enjoyed separately.
Itamae Sushi Edo believeswasabi should be applied directly to the fish itself, especially in the case of fatty fish likechutoro(medium fatty tuna) andotoro(pink fatty tuna), asthe wasabi helps to neutralize the fat, which makes it taste even more delicious.
A recent survey of15,558 diners found that 6,347 people (40.8 percent) said they always add wasabi to the fish on their sushi and never makewasabi joyu. However, 4,317 people (27.75 percent) said they mix wasabi in with their soy sauce and 4,894 people (31.46 percent) said they do it depending on the situation, making the practicecommon with over half of the respondents.
▼ Some diners don’t feel so bad mixing wasabi with soy sauce when eating takeaway sushi in the privacy of their own homes.
News ofwasabi joyubeing a breach of etiquette caused a stir online in Japan, with people leaving comments like:
“Really? I didn’t know about this rule!”
“I think mixing is becoming more common. Etiquette should change with the times to reflect current trends.”
“Good sushi restaurants put wasabi inside the sushi if it’s necessary so you shouldn’t have to add any more yourself.”
“Most people go to cheap sushi conveyor belt chain restaurants these days so they just eat whatever way they like.”
“This is just an extension of the belief that it’s considered taboo to mix things while eating.”
It’s true that mixing one’s dishes,by eating rice and side dishes together, is frowned upon in polite circles.However, there is one place wherewasabi joyuisn’t just accepted but encouraged — when eatingkaisendon(seafood bowls). Seafood bowl specialists likeDonin Osaka andKotetsuin Ishikawa’s Omicho Market advise that wasabi should be placed on a small plate, mixed with soy sauce and then poured over the bowl before eating.
So next time you’re eating sushi under the eye of a watchful chef in Japan, be sure to keep your wasabi and your soy sauce separate. If you’re dining out at a casual conveyor belt sushi restaurant on your own, however, it’s likely that nobody will bat an eyelid if you choose to sully your condiments. Because when they havesushi tacos on the menu, it’s safe to say all traditional rules have been thrown out the window.
Source:J-CastviaJin
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40 Comments
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jojo_in_japan
Japan has too many "taboos", just mind your own business and let me enjoy my sushi with ample wasabi. Soy and wasabi ... such an "injustice"!! ba hum bug !
12(+18/-6)
Pukey2
Japan has too many "taboos", just mind your own business and let me enjoy my sushi with ample wasabi. Soy and wasabi ... such an "injustice"!! ba hum bug !
Exactly. Just do what you like! If you like pouring soya sauce on your rice, then do it. I don't see locals complaining about mayonnaise and corn on pizzas, or using rice as burger buns.
11(+14/-3)
gokai_wo_maneku
It is a matter of taste.
3(+5/-2)
kohakuebisu
Just more of the typical snobbery and pretentiousness.
Even there is some possible sense when its super-high end sushi, 100% pure wasabi, and 100% pure soy sauce all traditionally produced by hand, it is extremely unlikely most people will ever encounter those when eating sushi. They will get stuff full of chemicals made in a factory. Most 100 yen sushi places think its okay to eat sushi with ramen and french fries.
5(+9/-4)
Michael Machida
Do what ever you want.
1(+6/-5)
GW
When I first washed up on these isles in the early 90s people were much more sensitive to wasabi & shoyu & how they were supposed to be used, I would say most kept these separate when consuming.
Then as time went by & Japans economy sank we ended up with slews of super cheap crappy tasting kaiten sushi & that & cheap izakaya are where the mixing kicked into high gear & now almost nobody bats a eye when people mix the two.
4(+5/-1)
Hito Bito
I don't say anything when Japanese drown perfectly good food in mayonaise in ways that would absolutely shock the French creators of said dishes.
I don't say anything when Japanese dump overpowering seaweed onto "Italian" pasta, nor when they mix strong fish base into pork or chicken recipes.
Do what you want with your food, and ignore the Taste Fascists. I don't care if I "should" or "shouldn't" put wasabi in my soy sauce. I do. I think it's better that way. And I don't care what anyone else thinks about it.
6(+8/-2)
1glenn
Every culture modifies imported foods to their own liking. I heard that the most popular pizza topping in Japan is octopus, which is absolutely frowned upon here in the States. Still, I have nothing against modifying the dish to suit local tastes.
-3(+1/-4)
Kuruki
I don't care what people say. I love wasabi so I'm going to add it into my soy sauce.
0(+6/-6)
kurisupisu
The world has too many problems to even consider this little trifle.
3(+5/-2)
Mickelicious
Kaitenzushiya are to Washoku what M©Dºnªld$ is to eating.
0(+1/-1)
Peter14
Some times the traditional way is the best way. Thats why it became traditional in the first place.
2(+3/-1)
BackpackingNepal
With Mayonnaise, even better taste.
-4(+1/-5)
albaleo
Try telling my wife not to mix wasabi and shoyu. You are likely to get a mouthful of abuse.
With Mayonnaise, even better taste.
She would probably go along with that too for certain dishes.
-1(+2/-3)
sf2k
you can't stop me
-1(+4/-5)
foreignbrotherhoodarmy
who cares? put whatever you want on it and to hell with what people think.
-2(+3/-5)
Hello Kitty 321
I can't say that I have ever been given wasabi in a sushi restaurant.
0(+1/-1)
TheReds
When you go to high end sushi, it is respectful to follow the tradition and separate the two. Anything below that, you can do what you want. TBH, even at high end if you do it, they probably won't say anything. But showing you know your thing might get you some bonus!
1(+2/-1)
OssanAmerica
1glennToday11:59 am JST
Every culture modifies imported foods to their own liking. I heard that the most popular pizza topping in Japan is octopus, which is absolutely frowned upon here in the States.
But it is not uncommon in Italy. Americans are the most food-ignorant people on this planet.
-5(+0/-5)
Pizza Gaijin
Every culture modifies imported foods to their own liking.
Yes, it is common to modify a recipe to adapt to the local taste.
I heard that the most popular pizza topping in Japan is octopus, which is absolutely frowned upon here in the States. Still, I have nothing against modifying the dish to suit local tastes.
Pizza is Italian food.
Nothing personal against the USA, but the genuine (Italian) pizza is something so different from what the Americans are used to eat.
American-style pizza is absolutely frowned upon by Italians.
For Italians, both the Japanese-style pizza (teriyaki pizza, pizza with nori seaweed…) and the USA-style pizza (including the pineapple pizza) are just not pizza.
Similarly, carbonara made with cream, napolitan pasta (pasta sauce made with ketcup and butter).....are absolutely frowned upon by Italians.
7(+8/-1)
Charlie Sommers
Wasabi and soy sauce are great mixed, they compliment each other as well as peanut butter and jelly.
0(+0/-0)
spinningplates
The correct way is to cook your sushi with your lighter, then drizzle tomato sauce on it after removing the seaweed wrapping.
0(+0/-0)
smithinjapan
If you like it, you should. If you don't, you shouldn't. If someone tells you you shouldn't, but you want to, and you are a customer, you should tell them if they don't think you should use it, they should not offer it. You'd think a nation that can't order pizza without a bottle of tabasco sauce and with it already covered in mayonnaise and corn wouldn't care so much.
4(+6/-2)
Danielsan
Tabasco sauce on sushi is a real treat, much better than soy or wasabi. Try it, you will be surprised!
-1(+0/-1)
1glenn
On the subject of mayonnaise, they love the stuff in Mexico, south of the border here in California. We go down there often in the winter, and we love the food. It may be surprising to most people, but it isn't just Japanese who love mayo; it is very popular in parts of Mexico. Not so much in the tourist areas, but many locals love it. I will say that their version of mayo tastes different, and better, than what I am used to here in the States. Has a bit of lime in it, and is so good I can eat it by itself.
0(+0/-0)
1glenn
All this talk of food makes me hungry. One of the good things about living in a place like California is that we can get food from all over the world. One of our daughters moved down South, and she really, really bemoans the lack of culinary choice. Don't get me started on the blatant racism.
0(+0/-0)
Aly Rustom
Have you ever mixed a bit of wasabi into your soy sauce and dipped your sushi into it? If you have, you’ve committed a culinary taboo that’s frowned upon in the dining world,
how about wine and chuhais with sushi, which I often see people do???
0(+0/-0)
sf2k
I'm in Canada where we invented Hawaiian pizza, called that because of the pineapple, and California rolls, because at the time the avocados came from California. We named it after the ingredient origin not the location because because.
So from my perspective food traditions are weird, do what you want
0(+1/-1)
Breakout
I don't say anything when Japanese drown perfectly good food in mayonaise in ways that would absolutely shock the French creators of said dishes.
I don't say anything when Japanese dump overpowering seaweed onto "Italian" pasta, nor when they mix strong fish base into pork or chicken recipes.
This is it! Japan always wants to have its cake and eat it too! Respect our cultures and traditions regardless if they are relevant today. However, we can do whatever we see fit regarding other cultures and traditions.
If you like it, you should. If you don't, you shouldn't. If someone tells you you shouldn't, but you want to, and you are a customer, you should tell them if they don't think you should use it, they should not offer it. You'd think a nation that can't order pizza without a bottle of tabasco sauce and with it already covered in mayonnaise and corn wouldn't care so much.
Can we all agree that mayonnaise and corn on pizza is totally gross?
0(+1/-1)
CMander
Far too many false equivalencies using mayo on pizza or other imported foods into Japan. This subject is about traditional Japanese foods not being eaten "traditionally"; not how a country adapts foreign foods to their own tastes.
As a country of tradition, it is what defines Japan and for better or for worse it is the reason we chose to live by, or are simply attracted to the culture. Reversely, a "Do whatever you want" attitude without consideration of tradition suggests that you are still and will forever be no more than a guest in the country.
-1(+0/-1)
