Kumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi

K u m a n o s a n m a s u g a t a - z u s h i o p e n s a P a c i f i c s a u r y a l o n g i t s b a c k , s e a s o n s i t w i t h s a l t a n d v i n e g a r , a n d l a y s t h e l o n...

Kumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi
Illustration showing the defining features of the food.

At a glance

NameKumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi (Sanma Zushi)
PrefectureMie
RegionKansai
TypeBack-opened salted and vinegar-cured Pacific saury laid whole over sushi rice

What is it?

K

u

m

a

n

o

s

a

n

m

a

s

u

g

a

t

a

-

z

u

s

h

i

o

p

e

n

s

a

P

a

c

i

f

i

c

s

a

u

r

y

a

l

o

n

g

i

t

s

b

a

c

k

,

s

e

a

s

o

n

s

i

t

w

i

t

h

s

a

l

t

a

n

d

v

i

n

e

g

a

r

,

a

n

d

l

a

y

s

t

h

e

l

o

n

g

f

i

s

h

o

v

e

r

s

h

a

p

e

d

s

u

s

h

i

r

i

c

e

.

K

u

m

a

n

o

C

i

t

y

e

x

p

l

a

i

n

s

t

h

a

t

l

a

t

e

-

m

i

g

r

a

t

i

n

g

f

i

s

h

r

e

a

c

h

t

h

e

K

u

m

a

n

o

S

e

a

w

i

t

h

m

o

d

e

r

a

t

e

d

f

a

t

a

n

d

a

c

l

e

a

n

t

a

s

t

e

.

History and local context

H

e

a

d

r

e

t

e

n

t

i

o

n

,

c

i

t

r

u

s

v

i

n

e

g

a

r

,

c

u

r

i

n

g

a

n

d

s

h

a

p

e

d

i

f

f

e

r

a

c

r

o

s

s

t

h

e

K

u

m

a

n

o

r

e

g

i

o

n

o

f

M

i

e

,

W

a

k

a

y

a

m

a

a

n

d

N

a

r

a

.

T

h

i

s

e

n

t

r

y

c

e

n

t

e

r

s

M

i

e

'

s

b

a

c

k

-

o

p

e

n

e

d

f

o

r

m

a

n

d

d

o

e

s

n

o

t

m

e

r

g

e

i

t

w

i

t

h

g

r

i

l

l

e

d

-

s

a

u

r

y

s

u

s

h

i

o

r

e

v

e

r

y

p

r

e

s

s

e

d

s

t

i

c

k

s

u

s

h

i

.

How to enjoy it

C

u

t

f

i

s

h

a

n

d

r

i

c

e

t

o

g

e

t

h

e

r

,

c

h

e

c

k

i

n

g

h

e

a

d

,

t

a

i

l

a

n

d

f

i

n

e

b

o

n

e

s

.

V

i

n

e

g

a

r

d

o

e

s

n

o

t

k

i

l

l

A

n

i

s

a

k

i

s

r

e

l

i

a

b

l

y

,

s

o

u

s

e

f

i

s

h

p

r

o

c

e

s

s

e

d

f

o

r

r

a

w

c

o

n

s

u

m

p

t

i

o

n

,

m

a

i

n

t

a

i

n

c

o

l

d

s

t

o

r

a

g

e

a

n

d

e

a

t

t

h

e

f

i

n

i

s

h

e

d

s

u

s

h

i

p

r

o

m

p

t

l

y

.

Availability varies by maker, season, and destination.

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Where is Kumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi from?

It is associated with Mie, in the Kansai region of Japan.

What kind of food is Kumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi?

This guide classifies it as back-opened salted and vinegar-cured pacific saury laid whole over sushi rice. See the overview for its defining ingredients and texture.

Can I order Kumano Sanma Sugata-zushi: Vinegar-Cured Saury Sushi online?

Use the Rakuten Japan search link on this page. Confirm the maker, ingredients, storage requirements, and international shipping before ordering.

Order from Japan

Search Rakuten Japan using the original Japanese food name. Search results and product pages may be available only in Japanese.

This section contains an advertising affiliate link to Rakuten Japan.