1.
How often do normal Japanese eat sushi?
Correct Answer
E. Less than once a week (once in two week or once a month)
Explanation
Even the Japanese do not eat sushi every day because sushi is not cheap food. If you go to a cheap place (such as a rotating sushi bar), you will be able to eat at around $30 per person. However, if you go to a good place, it will cost around $70-$300 (Some of the good restaurants in Ginza which is the most competitive area for sushi restaurants in Japan will cost $500 per person with drinks.)
2.
What is the correct way in putting soy sauce to your sushi?
Correct Answer
D. Touch the soy sauce with the fish and eat.
Explanation
Sushi is a portion of food to enjoy the freshness of the fish and the taste of the rice. So, you should not put too much soy sauce to kill the flavour of the fish or to make the rice watery (with soy sauce). If you can eat sushi without soy sauce, you should be a maven but normally, a touch of soy sauce will make the dish flavorful.
3.
Which is the best seat in the sushi restaurant to eat?
Correct Answer
A. Counter seat which is closest to the entrance
Explanation
Normally, the counter seat which is closest to the entrance is the best seat as it is the place where the “master” serves sushi. In order to greet every customer, the master position at the closest place to the entrance inside the counter.
4.
What is considered impolite to do in sushi restaurant?
Correct Answer
D. Order Toro (fatty tuna) many times
Explanation
Normally, Toro is served below cost because it is very expensive and the cost is balanced with other orders. As a result, if you order only Toro many times, it will be huge damage to the sushi restaurant. If it is a sushi restaurant which shows each price for every ingredient, it will be okay.
5.
Sushi restaurants in Japan often use a typical expression to describe things related to sushi. One of those is “soy sauce.” In a Japanese sushi restaurant, soy sauce is described in colour. Which colour below describes soy sauce?
Correct Answer
C. Purple
Explanation
In a Japanese sushi restaurant, soy sauce is called “Murasaki” which means “purple” in Japanese. The reason is not clear but one of the theory is that the colour of the soy sauce coming from the colour of the skin of "black soybeans" is very similar to "purple" which was considered as a "noble" colour in Japan long time ago that soy sauce is called as "purple".
6.
Which is correct in Japan?
Correct Answer
D. “Roll” is rice and fish (or other ingredients) rapped with dried seaweed.
Explanation
Roll is rice and fish (or other ingredients) wrapped with dried seaweed outside. “California Roll” is made with rice outside but this is not normal in Japan. The reason why rice is outside in “California Roll” is that in the past when Japanese food was not popular, Americans did not like to see the dried seaweed. So, the sushi chefs in the US
made a roll with rice outside to conceal the dried seaweed.
In Japan, the Japanese enjoy the crisp texture and flavour of the dried seaweed that dried seaweed is used outside (to wrap).
Other answers are;
“Omakase” means “Chef’s choice (recommendation)”.
It is okay to drink beer at a sushi restaurant and also it is okay to talk with both the sushi chef and the customers at the counter. Actually, one of the entertainments at a sushi restaurant is what kind of customers you can meet at the restaurant (counter). And a good sushi chef is who can not only make good sushi but also can draw out a good conversation between customers and make customers to have an enjoying experience.
7.
A piece of sushi weighs about 15-20g (0.5-0.7 ounce). Why sushi is this size?
Correct Answer
D. A piece of sushi used to be twice the size of current size and was served by cutting into half which became the size of current piece of sushi.
Explanation
A piece of sushi used to be like a rice ball. It was about 40g (about 0.1 pounds). However, because it was
too big to eat, it was cut into half when served. This half piece became the size of the current one piece of sushi. Also, by the restaurant, the sushi size is a little different. Some are big such as 20-25g and some are small such as 15g.
8.
In an authentic sushi restaurant in Japan, normally, which fish you are not able to eat?
Correct Answer
E. Salmon
Explanation
In the old times, salmon was not popular among Japanese that normally, authentic sushi restaurant does not serve "salmon." Also, Eel (Unagi) is not normally served in a sushi restaurant but instead they have sea eel (Anago). In Japan, it is said, "To see whether the sushi restaurant is good or not, eat "Anago" and "Egg".
9.
What does the word "sushi" mean when translated to English?
Correct Answer
A. Sour rice
Explanation
The word "sushi" when translated to English means "sour rice". This refers to the traditional Japanese dish made with vinegar-seasoned rice combined with various ingredients such as raw fish, vegetables, or seafood. The term "sour" in this context refers to the tangy taste of the rice, which is achieved by adding vinegar to the cooked rice. The answer "sour rice" accurately describes the meaning of the word "sushi" in English.
10.
Why was fermented rice used in the first sushi dishes?
Correct Answer
B. To keep the fish from rotting
Explanation
Fermented rice was used in the first sushi dishes to keep the fish from rotting. The fermentation process produces lactic acid, which acts as a natural preservative and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. By using fermented rice, the sushi chefs were able to ensure that the fish stayed fresh and safe to eat for longer periods of time. This was especially important in ancient times when refrigeration was not available.