【Reading】めはりずし

【English Name】Mehari sushi

A type of regional sushi in which rice mixed with ingredients, vinegared rice, or barley rice is wrapped whole in a takana (leaf mustard) leaf and shaped into a ball. It is said to have originally been a boxed lunch eaten when going out for mountain or farm work in the Kumano region of Wakayama Prefecture. Each one is large enough to make a full meal, and it has a strong onigiri (rice ball) character rather than that of sushi. There are various theories about the origin of the name 'mehari-zushi,' including that it is 'so delicious it makes your eyes open wide (mehari)' or that 'you open your mouth and eyes wide to eat it.'