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Inari Sushi (Fried Tofu Pouch Sushi)

Inari/Sushi Pockets

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Aburaage (Fried Tofu)

Aburaage is thinly sliced tofu that has been deep-fried, used as the wrapper for inari sushi. Also known as "inari-age" or "kitsune-age" (fox fry), the tofu used for aburaage is made using a different method than regular tofu and is thin enough to be fried all the way through, unlike thick-fried tofu (atsuage).

Inari sushi consists of sweet, savory simmered aburaage (fried tofu) pockets filled with vinegared rice mixed with ingredients such as carrots and shiitake mushrooms.

Often affectionately called "oinarisan," it is also known as "gomoku-zushi" (five-ingredient sushi) in the Kansai region. There are various theories about the origin of the name, but the most widely accepted is that since fried tofu is considered a favorite food of foxes, and foxes serve as messengers of the Shinto deity Inari, the sushi came to be called inari-zushi.

The shape and flavor of inari sushi vary slightly by region across Japan. In Tokyo and the Kanto region, they are shaped like rice bales (tawara-gata), while in Osaka and the Kansai region, they are triangular (sankaku-gata). The barrel shape is said to represent rice bales symbolizing an abundant harvest, while the triangular shape is said to represent fox ears.

Although rarely found at high-end sushi restaurants, inari sushi is a quintessentially everyday sushi that can be easily purchased at conveyor belt sushi chains, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

A Common People's Sushi Beloved Since the Edo Period

The origins of inari sushi date back to the Edo period. It was a popular, affordable type of sushi. In "Morisada Manko," a compendium documenting customs and objects of the late Edo period, there is a description of "splitting open one side of aburaage to form a pouch, stuffing it with rice mixed with mushrooms, and selling it as sushi," which is thought to be the prototype of inari sushi.

In "Omi Shobai Kyoka Awase," an illustrated book depicting Edo-period street vendors, merchants are shown carrying inari sushi on shoulder poles to sell in town, illustrating its growing popularity. By the late Edo period, some merchants had even set up permanent shops to sell inari sushi.

Because it is easy to eat, affordable, and delicious, inari sushi has been beloved by common people from the Edo period to the present day.
Omi Shobai Kyoka Awase: Inari Sushi Omi Shobai Kyoka Awase: Inari Sushi

Inari Sushi and Sukeroku Sushi

You have probably seen "Sukeroku Sushi" in supermarkets, a boxed set containing inari sushi and maki rolls. It was originally a bento distributed during kabuki performances. Its name comes from the popular Edo-period kabuki play "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura."
The protagonist Sukeroku's courtesan lover was named "Agemaki," which can be associated with "age" (fried tofu, as in inari sushi) and "maki" (roll, as in nori-maki). Thus, the combination of inari sushi (representing "age") and nori rolls (representing the headband "maki" that Sukeroku wore) came to be called Sukeroku Sushi.

You have probably seen "Sukeroku Sushi" in supermarkets, a boxed set containing inari sushi and maki rolls. It was originally a bento distributed during kabuki performances. Its name comes from the popular Edo-period kabuki play "Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura."
The protagonist Sukeroku's courtesan lover was named "Agemaki," which can be associated with "age" (fried tofu, as in inari sushi) and "maki" (roll, as in nori-maki). Thus, the combination of inari sushi (representing "age") and nori rolls (representing the headband "maki" that Sukeroku wore) came to be called Sukeroku Sushi.

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