Chirashi Sushi Day

What Is Chirashi Sushi Day?

Every year on June 27, Japan celebrates "Chirashi Sushi Day." The date marks the death anniversary (the 22nd day of the fifth month of Tenna 2, or June 27, 1682 in the modern calendar) of Ikeda Mitsumasa, lord of the Okayama domain in Bizen, who is said to have given rise to "bara-zushi" (also called Okayama-zushi), a local specialty of Okayama Prefecture. The day was established by Ajikan Co., Ltd., a Hiroshima-based food manufacturer known for products such as shredded omelet (kinshi tamago), and was certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2004. It is a day to enjoy colorful chirashi sushi and learn about its history.

Bara-zushi, Said to Have Been Born from "One Soup, One Side Dish"

There is a well-known legend linking the birth of bara-zushi to an austerity edict issued by Ikeda Mitsumasa.

• Lord Ikeda's austerity edict: In 1654, during the early Edo period, a great flood struck Bizen Province. To help the domain recover, Ikeda Mitsumasa is said to have issued an austerity edict limiting meals to "one soup and one side dish" (ichijū issai).
• Mixing ingredients to make "one dish": According to tradition, people who still wanted to enjoy good food mixed fish, vegetables, and other ingredients into their rice so that the whole thing counted as a single dish. This is said to be the origin of Okayama's bara-zushi and of today's chirashi sushi.
• A dish for special occasions: Chirashi sushi became established across Japan as a feast for "hare" (special) days such as the Doll Festival, local festivals, and celebrations.

Who Was Ikeda Mitsumasa?

Ikeda Mitsumasa was a lord of the Okayama domain in the early Edo period, known for government based on Confucian principles and counted among the era's wise rulers.

• Shizutani School: he ordered the founding of this school, known as a place where commoners could study. Its lecture hall is designated a National Treasure.
• Flood control and land development: in flood-prone Okayama, he devoted effort to flood control and the development of new rice fields.

Fun Facts About Chirashi Sushi

• "Chirashi" and "bara": sushi with sashimi and other toppings scattered on top of vinegared rice is often called "chirashi sushi," while sushi with the ingredients mixed into the rice may be called "bara-zushi" or "gomoku-zushi." Names and methods vary by region and household.
• Okayama's bara-zushi: it is known for generous use of the Seto Inland Sea's seafood and the land's produce, such as Spanish mackerel (sawara), mamakari (a small herring-like fish), shrimp, conger eel, lotus root, and shredded omelet.
• Lucky ingredients: lotus root, with its holes, symbolizes "seeing into the future," and shrimp, which bends like an elderly person's back, symbolizes long life.
• The wisdom of vinegared rice: vinegar helps keep food from spoiling and has been used in sushi since long before refrigerators. Even so, in summer it is best not to leave sushi sitting out and to eat it promptly.

Tips for Enjoying Chirashi Sushi Day

• Make chirashi sushi at home with seasonal seafood and vegetables.
• Talk about the meanings behind ingredients like lotus root and shrimp as you eat.
• Get creative with the plating, balancing the yellow of the omelet, the green of snow peas, and the red of shrimp.
• Look into Okayama's bara-zushi and other regional sushi around Japan.

A Colorful Feast Born from Constraints

June 27 is a day to explore the history of chirashi sushi, which carries the story of people who found ways to enjoy their meals even under an austerity edict. The legend of mixing ingredients into rice to make "one dish" reflects the wisdom of finding enjoyment within limits. Why not enjoy a colorful bowl of chirashi sushi today?