【Reading】なみだまき

【English Name】Namida Maki (Wasabi Roll)

Namida-maki is a type of thin rolled sushi (hosomaki) with wasabi as the main ingredient. "Namida" (tears) is the jargon for wasabi used in the sushi trade, said to derive from the way wasabi's pungency brings tears to the eyes.

It is characterized by a simple composition in which vinegared rice is rolled in nori with only wasabi placed in the center. At sushi shops it is sometimes served at the end of a meal or as a palate cleanser. Because it lets you taste the flavor of wasabi directly, it is known as a dish for connoisseurs.

It is also called "wasabi-maki" or "namida-maki" (written with the character for tears). In sushi shop jargon (trade terminology), it is common to express wasabi as "namida" or "sabi," and the name namida-maki also arose from this jargon culture.