What is kappa, a sushi ingredient?
Introducing kappa, which is used as an ingredient in sushi.
Kappa means cucumber
Kappa refers to cucumber. Kappamaki refers to sushi made of cucumber, rice, and nori wrapped in seaweed. The origin of the name Kappa is said to be because it resembles the head of a famous Japanese monster, the Kappa, and cucumbers are the Kappa’s favorite food.
What kind of monster is Kappa?
The Kappa is often described as having a child-like physique and a green body all over. It carries something like a turtle shell on its back, and has a round plate on its head. This plate is always filled with water, and if it dries out or cracks, it loses its power.
They are said to live especially in the rivers and streams of Japan, and there is a legend that children encounter them when playing in the rivers. Kappas are said to exhibit strength in the water and are good at swimming and playing underwater, and their lore and appearance may vary depending on the region.
Kappas are often depicted as cautionary characters to children, teaching them how to play safely in rivers and what they need to be careful about. On the other hand, there are also stories of them playing pranks on humans, and while they are fond of mischief, they are also portrayed as a kind of warning presence.
Kappas, with their green skin and distinctive head shape, are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, appearing widely in folklore, art, anime, and manga as traditional Japanese monsters.
How to eat Kappamaki
Although it is not bad manners to eat with chopsticks, we recommend eating thin sushi rolls such as kappamaki and tekkamaki with your hands. Turn the sushi roll diagonally and add a little soy sauce to the border between the nori and the sushi rice. There is no problem if you eat it by lightly putting it on one side of the seaweed.
You can also use gari (ginger) to brush the soy sauce on the sushi rolls, just like with Gunkan-maki, but in general, you can just dip the sushi rolls in the soy sauce as is.
In any case, it is best to keep the shari (rice) from falling apart.
