Bamboo Leaf Sushi

Bamboo leaf sushi, or sasa-zushi, is a traditional recipe from the region, made by wrapping sushi rice (rice seasoned with sweetened vinegar), along with toppings like sliced fish and pickled vegetables, in bamboo leaves. After wrapping, these are then pressed to shape them and make them more compact, perfect for packing as a compact lunch on the go. The bamboo leaf serves as an eco-friendly wrapper, while also imparting a unique aroma of its own.

Visitors to Oyabe can try making their own bamboo leaf sushi with hands-on workshops organized by Dengo Nosan (Dengo Farm). These lessons cover the basics, using traditional layered boxes for packing the sushi to press it, but participants are also taught how they can press the sushi at home using an empty milk carton. Dengo Nosan also offers a variety of other traditional countryside Japanese cooking workshops, with various seasonal dishes and treats all throughout the year.