【Reading】たかなまき/たかなずし

【English Name】Takana maki / Takana sushi

Takana-maki is a type of rolled sushi long loved in the Hita region of Oita Prefecture. Whereas ordinary rolled sushi is wrapped in nori, its greatest feature is the use of pickled takana (mustard greens) on the outside.

As ingredients, yam, natto, green onion, and the like are layered on top of vinegared rice, and the saltiness and flavor of the takana pickles melding with the vinegared rice produce a distinctive taste.

Its origin is said to be around 1965, and it is reported to have been devised by "Yasuke-zushi," which first handled Edomae sushi in Hita City in 1954. Today the Hita Sushi Association develops sushi making use of local specialties as "Hitan-zushi," and each member shop offers takana-maki with its own arrangement based on the prototype of Yasuke-zushi.

Note that under the name "takanazushi," it was also selected as one of the "Hundred Selections of Hometown Onigiri" chosen by the Food Agency in 1986, and it is widely recognized as a regional food culture that Oita takes pride in.