【Reading】たち

【English Name】Tachi

In the sushi industry, "tachi" refers to a style of eating nigiri at the counter without sitting down. The formal name is "tachigui-zushi" (standing-and-eating sushi), and it has been operated as a business category separate from conveyor-belt sushi (kaiten-zushi), centered in urban areas.

Edomae sushi was originally a common people's food that began at street stalls. Soba stalls first took root in the town of Edo, and sushi too came to be sold on the streets in imitation of them. The style of eating while standing can be said to be the original form of sushi.

Behind the popularity of modern tachigui-zushi lies the convenience of being able to enjoy authentic nigiri in a short visit. Customer turnover is faster than at seated, high-end restaurants, and as a result, reasonable pricing becomes possible. Outlets are concentrated around stations and in office districts of major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

In recent years, however, the number of shops that, while bearing the name "standing-and-eating," provide simple stools is increasing, and a state of coexistence is emerging between pure standing-style shops and those where one can sit and eat.