Comments on: Proper Suishi Etiquette.

Proper Suishi Etiquette.

monju_bosatsu — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:25:06 -0800

Please be careful to observe proper etiquette when dining on sushi. [31 MB .mov, coralized link]

By: hortense

hortense — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:39:20 -0800

Ah ring a tow,

By: malaprohibita

malaprohibita — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:39:24 -0800

mmmm.... squirrel sushi. That was delicious, thank you!

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:40:19 -0800

This is perfect in so many ways. It made my day.

By: cavalier

cavalier — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:42:59 -0800

I've noticed on more than one occassion that coralizing text works out pretty well but that coralizing media files ends up with missing bits. Am I alone in this? I'm trying the coralized link for giggles but the last few times I've downloaded a video file via coral it has bombed.

By: FissionChips

FissionChips — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:43:38 -0800

According to this thread, the video came from a DVD called Video Victim. I'm really curious as to what else is on the DVD.

By: kosem

kosem — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:47:28 -0800

While I owe a debt of gratitude to real sushi tutorials, this was hi-larious.

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:49:27 -0800

Maybe we can all chip in and have one of the Tokyo-based Mefites buy it for us. I would volunteer, but I'm back in the U.S. now. Or maybe I can get my brother-in-law to order it for me - he's in the restaurant business, and he'd get a kick out of it, I'm sure.

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:53:15 -0800

Kosem - I was eating at a yatai on Aoyama-dori one night, when the owner asked me where I was from. When I told him NYC, he pulled out one of Yasuda's business cards and asked if I knew the place, as it was owned by a friend of his. Not only did I know it, but my wife worked there briefly before we met. But this is the first time I've seen their tutorial - thanks for the link. (Next time you're there, order the fried eel bones - pure crunchy goodness.)

By: Rothko

Rothko — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:53:21 -0800

Thanks very much!

By: JeffK

JeffK — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:53:38 -0800

If the number is 1, you should show a little guilt in your eyes. That's what my mother always told me. And that you'll go blind if the number is 1 too often.

By: mystyk

mystyk — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:16:18 -0800

[this is fantastic]

By: aladfar

aladfar — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:19:06 -0800

Absolute brilliant. Are there more of these? While I realize they were just part of the schtick at the end, I'd love to see their episode on Sumo etiquette.

By: sharksandwich

sharksandwich — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:32:58 -0800

I'd really like to know how keenly this "proper sushi etiquette" is followed in Japan. I get the feeling that there are Western dish eating protocals that the Japanese are mystifyed by, which westerners rarely adhere to. I've never been to Japan, but in Hong Kong sushi eaters were biting pieces in half, loading wasabi in soy, and generally not being all gay about the whole thing. I'm sure the Japanese are in awe of our "ceremonies" involving ordering, garnishing and eating Chicago style hotdogs or Philly Cheese-steaks. It's fucking food for christ sakes. I paid for it, I'll eat it how I want.

By: mkultra

mkultra — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:33:18 -0800

"Maa maa maa maa" "Oh toh toh toh" Awesome. Thanks for this! And yes, Yasuda is really something. And VERY expensive. But wow, the fish! How does it stack up against the top places in Japan?

By: mkultra

mkultra — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:40:18 -0800

sharksandwich- Yes, the customs surrounding sushi in Japan seem to have broken down a lot in the past few decades, but there's nothing "gay" about their respect for dining. Their culinary tradition is much older than ours, and being a sushi chef is no minor undertaking. The Japanese also emphasize ceremony across the board.

By: Tenuki

Tenuki — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:51:02 -0800

Now I want to try Yamato w. Cucumber.

By: jonson

jonson — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:03:49 -0800

sharksandwich & mkultra, did you watch the video? Or read the comments in this thread? It's a joke, the "traditions" being shown are very dry & subtle comic exaggerations. A clue would have been the "squirrel sushi" shown in the middle of the clip & referenced at the top of this post.

By: ozomatli

ozomatli — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:04:46 -0800

I wonder what if any the rational behind proper sushi ettiquette is.

By: mystyk

mystyk — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:10:38 -0800

But my favorite was the shot of pieces with hot-wheels cars instead of fish slices.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:13:04 -0800

Joke, eh? *Whew!*

By: mkultra

mkultra — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:21:59 -0800

jonson- Yeah, it's obvious early on that it's a joke (pretty much as soon as they sit down), but there's a degree of etiquette to eating sushi (or, more properly, between you and the sushi chef) that is much more widespread than formal Western dining customs. I was just responding to sharksandwich's flippant dismissal of it.

By: sharksandwich

sharksandwich — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:32:00 -0800

I watched the vidoe several days ago. I was just posting a flippant dismissal of sushi eating etiquette.

By: kosem

kosem — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:32:09 -0800

jonson: I think everyone realizes that this is a joke, and that it's a very funny insider critique of the obsessiveness of Japanese sushi culture. I may have sent the thread slightly in the wrong direction by linking to actual, non squirrel-based sushi etiquette. mkultra And yes, Yasuda is really something. And VERY expensive. But wow, the fish! How does it stack up against the top places in Japan? Yasuda is the best sushi I've eaten in the states. The fish is always flawless--it's my splurge restaurant. I've never eaten in one of the "top" places in Japan, as the omakase in one of those restaurants could be $1000 or more--and an a la carte meal at least $300. That said, I had some incredible sushi in Tokyo. My favorite sushi meals ever happened at 6 o'clock in the morning three days in a row in the Tsukiji fish market (Very useful Mefi discussion here), and particularly at Daiwa. While nothing will ever touch that experience for me, I do think Yasuda's food is equal or better. on preview: mkultra was right to respond to shark sandwich. squirrel: !!

By: Rattmouth

Rattmouth — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 11:57:48 -0800

I am pretty sure that this is "Japanese Tradition (Sushi)" by Junji Kojima. This can be found on the Best of ResFest vol 3, although this version seemed very slightly different (with different subtitles and voiceover). Enjoy!

By: jeffmik

jeffmik — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 13:28:38 -0800

So uhhh... what parts aren't real?

By: zardoz

zardoz — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 14:39:13 -0800

Maybe we can all chip in and have one of the Tokyo-based Mefites buy it for us. I would volunteer, but I'm back in the U.S. now Well, I'm one of those Tokyo-based Mefites and I can assure you this is a joke. And a funny one, too! As soon as I heard at the beginning "Japanese eat sushi every day", that's all I needed. Japanese don't eat sushi every day or even every week. It's not a delicacy, exactly, but more of a "go out to eat" type of thing. Great link.

By: 3.2.3

3.2.3 — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:00:23 -0800

this is gari. no one knows what it is made of. too funny.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:03:07 -0800

What does "maa maa maa" really mean? I love the idea of having a prescribed thing to say when you pour or receive a drink.

By: josh

josh — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 15:14:02 -0800

That said, I had some incredible sushi in Tokyo. My favorite sushi meals ever happened at 6 o'clock in the morning three days in a row in the Tsukiji fish market (Very useful Mefi discussion here), and particularly at Daiwa. I too have done this many times--the best sushi I've ever had as well! Daiwa was wonderful. It basically ruined me for sushi in the States. Mmmmm, sushi.....

By: hypersloth

hypersloth — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 16:09:37 -0800

That is why Japanese people's feet sometimes smell like vinegar... Hilarious link, thx.. Although I won't thank you for waking the sushi-fiend in me - it's an expensive craving.

By: hypersloth

hypersloth — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 16:11:03 -0800

oh also, Ten ways to make a sushi chef lose it: 1. "Hold the onions and slap some gravy on the fries willya?" 2. Send back every piece of Nigiri and yell, "Don't you people know what medium-well means?" 3. Ask for ketchup. 4. "I don't know what's in sushi, but it sure is good! Just glad there's no seafood in it cause I'm deathly allergic to fish." 5. Tell the chef his sushi was, "Not as good as the refrigerated sushi at Costco." 6. "Waaassssssaaaaaaaabbbbiiiiiiii!" 7. "What is this shit? It looks like raw fish and rice." 8. "My goldfish died today. Can we eat him?" 9. "I'll take a breast and thigh meal." 10. "Are the Godzilla rolls really made from Godzilla?"

By: GooseOnTheLoose

GooseOnTheLoose — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 16:33:34 -0800

Aa, monjusan, sankyuu beri machi.

By: jsonic

jsonic — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:10:41 -0800

"Maa maa maa maa" "Oh toh toh toh" That's actually not a joke. I watched this video awhile ago with my japanese friend here in Japan, and she confirmed its embarrassing, yet hilarious, truth. I use it all the time now.

By: junesix

junesix — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:43:18 -0800

"Maa maa maa maa" "Oh toh toh toh" I can only give a rough approximation of the meaning as my extended family uses similar expressions though I've never been given an actual explanation of it. Essentially it's akin to saying: "Here, have some (more)" "(Thank you), not so much" You'll never find it in a dictionary because these are more closely related to grunts and noises than actual language. < /disclaimer: chinese perspective>

By: dorian

dorian — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:02:28 -0800

this is such a great combination of truth and lies, it's brilliant. and oh man, the kappa rolls at the end are hilarious. also, I love the sort of stella vibe that the two guys have.

By: gen

gen — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:10:46 -0800

"Maa maa maa maa" That one is still used occasionally. "Oh toh toh toh" I haven't heard that once in 3 years in Tokyo. It's more of an older-generation thing (i.e. people in their 50's 60's.)

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:26:19 -0800

That was great! What fraction of that was serious etiquette? Also, is there no wasabi in Japan? I'm hungry...want sushi now!

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:27:36 -0800

Brings back for me the mystery of things no longer mysterious; French culture, actually. When there actually was a French culture.

By: jsonic

jsonic — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:30:31 -0800

Also, is there no wasabi in Japan? I've found that the sushi chefs in Japan put a certain amount of wasabi in or on the sushi itself, unless that particular piece doesn't need wasabi.

By: Joseph Gurl

Joseph Gurl — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:48:46 -0800

At a sushiya in Fukuoka day before yesterday, the chef kept hitting me with free stuff (I was the only one in the place at the time? I looked hungry? I dunno), one of which was "roast beef nigiri". No A1 sauce though, but it was fine.

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:53:27 -0800

Zardoz: I know it's a joke, it's the first thing I've seen online in months that made me laugh out loud. I want to see the other funny stuff on the DVD. I'm gonna try some of the Japanese video stores here, before I order it from abroad, though. And , yeah, I think I had sushi (in a restaurant) maybe a dozen times in the 3 years I lived in Japan. ALthough there were a couple of inexpensive, conveyor-belt, sushi places that were fun to go to with the wife and son. (I'd also love to see one of these done for ramen, though I think Tampopo covers that ground pretty well.)

By: jsonic

jsonic — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 19:04:52 -0800

Joseph Gurl, since you're on the island of Kyushu, try some basashi (raw horse sushi) next time. It's a famous delicacy in sushi shops in the Kyushu area.

By: dorian

dorian — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 19:26:07 -0800

tampopo is evil in that it always makes me deliriously hungry for quality ramen. good thing there is the reasonably decent ramen district in nyc just south of central park. and no I'm not saying what my favorite shop is, get your own damned ramen!

By: ParisParamus

ParisParamus — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 19:33:12 -0800

Just how rare is it for the average Japanese to have sushi? Is it a once a month thing? A few times a year? More?

By: hototogisu

hototogisu — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 21:12:15 -0800

That was beautiful...

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 22:20:34 -0800

IT IS THE SAMURI WAY!

By: OneOliveShort

OneOliveShort — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 00:56:14 -0800

Jeezuss, theren't words for how much I adore sushi, so it pains me to direct you to the Chicago Tribune's recent expose on mercury in fish" (It's basically everywhere). registration and imbedded video, bastards I'm gonna eat it anyway... fish, not the Tribune

By: Joseph Gurl

Joseph Gurl — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:43:27 -0800

jsonic - I was just in Fukuoka for a day. I live in Seoul, where I will likely have some live octopus this week. mmmm...

By: seawallrunner

seawallrunner — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:36:19 -0800

[fabulous]