Masuzushi

Masuzushi
	Masuzushi, pressed sushi with trout
Course	Main
Main ingredients	Rice, umeboshi, fish, meat, tsukemono
	Media: Masuzushi;

Masuzushi (鱒寿司, literally 'trout sushi') is a kind of Japanese ekiben boxed meal sold on trains and train stations in Japan. It is a type of oshizushi (pressed sushi) and a well-known souvenir of Toyama.^[1]

Masuzushi is made of vinegared trout sashimi on top of vinegared rice and wrapped in bamboo leaves. Once the fish and rice is wrapped in bamboo leaves, a weight (often a heavy stone) is kept on top for several hours in order to compress and complete the dish.^[2]^[3] It is traditionally kept in a round bentwood box known as a mage-wappa, which is then sealed by two bamboo sticks.^[4] There are also masuzushi which consist of two layers of fish and rice.^[2]

History

Masuzushi originated in the Edo period, with its preparation and storage technique remaining relatively the same as when it was first made.^[1]

Masuzushi was originally prepared by samurai Yoshimura Shinpachi for Maeda Toshioki, third lord of Toyama. It was then presented to Tokugawa Yoshimune.^[5]

It was during the Taishō era that masuzushi was first marketed as ekiben at the opening of the Hokuriku Railroad, popularizing it in other areas of Japan.^[5]^[2]

Masuzushi is most often eaten on special occasions such as Obon and New Year's in Japan.^[2]