岡山県·郷土料理
Okayama Bara-zushi
The moment you open the lid, a gasp escapes your lips—shrimp, largescale threadfin, lotus root, and snow peas are packed tightly atop the sushi rice. It is truly a feast for special occasions, filled with colorful ingredients. It is said that its origin lies in the ingenuity of commoners facing frugality edicts. During the Edo period, Ikeda Mitsumasa, the Lord of the Okayama Domain, issued a decree stating, "Meals shall consist of only one soup and one side dish." In response, people devised this luxurious Bara-zushi using the logic that even with many toppings, if mixed into the rice, it still counts as "one side dish." Also called "Matsuri-zushi" (festival sushi), it is an indispensable dish for festivals and celebrations. With both treasures of the sea and bounty of the mountains all on a single plate, this bright and cheerful sushi reflects the true richness of Okayama.
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