【Reading】ばらん

【English Name】Baran / Decorative divider

Baran is a decorative item used in arranging sushi and bento to partition dishes from one another. Today plastic ones are mainstream, and the green, jagged grass-like shape is widely known.

The origin of the name lies in "haran" (cast-iron plant), an evergreen perennial of the asparagus family. In the past, large natural haran leaves were cut out and used as partitions for sushi and bento. Fresh leaves are said to have antibacterial properties, and especially in sushi, which handles raw fish, they are thought to have helped not only prevent the transfer of taste and smell but also suppress spoilage. The "sasa-giri" technique of beautifully crafting leaves is also said to have developed from the Edo period.

Eventually plastic imitations appeared, initially called "jinzo haran" (artificial haran). Later, under the influence of the prefix "jinzo," the "ha" became voiced to "ba," yielding "jinzo baran," and then "jinzo" was dropped, establishing the current name "baran." Some shops distinguish the plastic ones as "baran" and those using natural leaves as "haran."

In modern times, diverse shapes exist, such as mountain-type, bamboo-leaf-type, maple-type, and perilla-leaf-type, and materials range from disposable plastic types to reusable silicone types. They can be easily obtained at places like 100-yen shops.