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The Forum: Sushi: The Japanese dish with an ancient tradition

Young woman eating sushi

30/09/2021 GMT

Sushi: The Japanese dish with an ancient tradition

BBC World Service - The Forum, Sushi: The Japanese dish with an ancient tradition

Sushi originally started in East Asia as a means of preserving fish

Sushi originally started as a way of preserving fish in ancient China, before it evolved into the Japanese dish we know today.

It’s one of the most popular dishes in the world today, but the story of sushi can be traced back more than 2,000 years. The earliest records document a preserved fish dish in ancient China and it later became a medieval luxury in Japan, before evolving into a variety of different regional styles and recipes. Today, thanks to waves of migration from Japan, there is a veritable smorgasbord of international varieties… California roll, anyone?  

Joining Rajan Datar to discuss the history of sushi are James Farrer, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Graduate Programme in Global Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo. He is the author of Globalisation and Asian Cuisines; Eric C. Rath is Professor of Premodern Japanese History at the University of Kansas in the US. He’s the author of Oishii: The History of Sushi; and Michelin-starred Japanese sushi master, Endo Kazutoshi, who is head chef at The Rotunda in London.

Presenter: Rajan Datar

[Image: Young woman eating sushi; Credit: Getty Images]

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