Funazushi
Fermented carp and rice, sushi's ancestor
Think of it as: Like a fish that's been aged as long as a stinky cheese
Japan sends in a heavy hitter.
What does it taste like?
A strong, cheese-like fermented aroma and a sharp sourness. Heaven for sake lovers.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureSticky and tender
What is it?
Crucian carp from Lake Biwa, salted and then fermented in rice for a long time. An ancient form of sushi with a cheese-like smell and tang. It's also great in ochazuke (rice with tea poured over).Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Sliced thin as a snack with sake, or eaten in ochazuke. It's also served at New Year and celebrations in Shiga.
Watch it
JapaneseTap to play (YouTube)This video is not in English. YouTube auto-translated captions can help.
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇯🇵Japan
CapitalTokyo
Populationabout 122 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesCars, Electronic components and machinery, Tourism, Anime and games
Common surnamesSato, Suzuki, TakahashiFrom national statistics and surname surveys; rankings vary by source
HelloKonnichiwa
CurrencyYen
Fun factFunazushi is the ancestor of today's nigiri sushi
The flag🇯🇵 The "Hinomaru": a red circle on white, standing for the sun.
Best timeMarch to April for cherry blossoms and October to November for fall colors are the most popular.
Also trySushiRamenTempura
More from here🐟 Kusaya🫘 Natto🐝 Hachinoko🐛 Zazamushi🐡 Fugu no Ko Nukazuke🐴 Basashi🍍 Hoya
🇯🇵 Sounds & life in Japan
こんにちはHello（Konnichiwa）
Kanji, hiragana and katakana
Kanji, hiragana and katakana
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Anthem"Kimigayo"
MusicJ-pop Japanese pop that pairs perfectly with anime
SportBaseball
Shohei Ohtani (baseball; a two-way star pitching and hitting in the Major Leagues) World HeritageHimeji Castle and more National animalGreen pheasant (national bird) National flowerCherry blossom and chrysanthemum (unofficial) FestivalGion Matsuri (July, Kyoto)
MusicJ-pop Japanese pop that pairs perfectly with anime
SportBaseball
Shohei Ohtani (baseball; a two-way star pitching and hitting in the Major Leagues) World HeritageHimeji Castle and more National animalGreen pheasant (national bird) National flowerCherry blossom and chrysanthemum (unofficial) FestivalGion Matsuri (July, Kyoto)
Ingredients
- Nigorobuna (crucian carp)
- Salt
- Cooked rice
- (If buying) Sliced funazushi
How to make it (one way)
- Scale and gut carp caught in spring, then pack them with plenty of salt
- Weigh them down and salt-cure until summer
- Rinse off the salt, layer with rice in a barrel, and weigh down
- Leave to ferment for over a year
- Slice thin and eat as is, or in ochazuke
Get the ingredients (ad)
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