【Reading】びーがんずし

【English Name】Vegan Sushi

Vegan sushi is a general term for sushi made without using any animal-derived ingredients such as seafood, eggs, or dairy products. Based on the philosophy of veganism, nigiri and rolls are prepared using only plant-derived ingredients.

The word vegan itself is said to be a coined term created in 1944 when Donald Watson and others in the United Kingdom founded the Vegan Society. Whereas vegetarianism refers to a diet avoiding meat, veganism differs in not consuming any animal-derived foods, including eggs, dairy products, and honey. In 1951, the same society broadened its definition, positioning it as a philosophy that excludes all use of animals, not limited to food but extending to clothing and experimentation.

Representative toppings used in vegan sushi include vegetables and plant-based materials such as avocado, shiitake, ume (plum), takuan (pickled radish), yuba (tofu skin), konjac, and bell pepper. In recent years, products using alternative fish (plant-based seafood) have also appeared, with efforts advancing to bring the texture and appearance closer to seafood.

Amid the worldwide increase in vegan-friendly restaurants from the 2010s onward, shops offering vegan sushi have come to be seen within Japan as well. Though taking an approach different from traditional Edomae sushi, it is drawing attention as a presence that broadens the diversity of sushi.