【Reading】たちぐいずし

【English Name】Standing sushi bar

Tachigui sushi refers to the dining style of savoring nigiri while standing in front of the counter, as well as the collective term for shops adopting it.

Edomae nigiri sushi, which can be called the prototype of sushi, was born within the stall (yatai) culture of the late Edo period. Customers of that time stood in front of the stall and ate freshly made nigiri on the spot. In other words, the origin of sushi can be found in the standing-and-eating style.

After the Meiji period, sushi shops changed into store forms with tatami rooms and counter seats, and the standing style once receded from the main stage. However, in recent years, standing-style sushi shops are being reevaluated, especially in urban areas. The reason it is supported is that, compared with high-end seated sushi shops, the turnover rate is high and the shop area can be kept small, so one can enjoy authentic nigiri at a relatively reasonable price.

Openings in downtown areas such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, and around Ginza in Tokyo stand out, and they have been valued by businesspeople who want to wrap up a meal quickly at lunchtime. The sense of presence of a chef finishing the sushi right before one's eyes is also a major appeal of tachigui sushi.