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The history of sushi shows first of all that it does not originally come from Japan, but from China. In China it was used to perserve raw fish. Still sushi had a different form, because back then fish was flattened with a big and heavy stone in order to make it durable. In addition to this the fish was salted also to extend the durability.
At that time fish was served on rice, which was not eaten but used because of its heat to cook the raw fish a little. Rice was not even seen as a food.

Later, in the 8th century sushi came to Japan where rice was already used as food, especially with fish. This is why then the rice was eaten with the sushi. This was the first time sushi was not used as a preserving method anymore but as a delicatessen. From this point in time sushi developed and the Japanese people had more and more ideas. Vinegar was added to the rice and together with the traditional fish vegetables were integrated. Sushi became more and more like the sushi we know nowadays.

In the 19th century sushi became such a popular meal in Japan that you could buy it about everywhere in the growing city Tokio. And because of an very sad incident sushi became also known outside of Tokio. In 1923 a big earthquake shattered the city and many people who earned their living by selling sushi fled back to the villages they had come from. Here they started selling the new sushi and consequently the recipe was very quickly spread through the whole of Japan.

Some years later the sushi-boom also swept to North America and sushi-bars opened up everywhere. The reason for the popularity of sushi in North America is that sushi was soon recognized as very tasty and especially very healthy food. Everybody wanted to try the new speciality from Japan. Of course sushi did not only reach America. It soon came to Europe as well. Today sushi is internationally known and many people love it.
By the way, today not only the taste but also the external appearance of sushi is very important.

In Japan only men are allowed to prepare sushi, because they are meant to have a different body temperature in their hands and with that the perfect prerequisite for the process of making sushi.