🍚 Happa Sushi (Leaf Rapped Sushi)

"Happazushi" is a type of sushi that involves wrapping vinegared rice, Masu(=trout), and ginger in the leaves of the Vernicia (Aburagiri), a deciduous tall tree belonging to the Toadflax family. It is also known as "Koppazushi" in the Kuzuryu River basin, particularly in the vicinity of Eiheiji Town. The dish, with its pale red color, is an essential local specialty for festivals and celebrations. The use of Aburagiri is due to its good preservation and aromatic qualities, but other leaves such as Akamegashiwa, bamboo leaves, and persimmon leaves may also be used. The term "Masuzushi" is sometimes used since the trout sushi is wrapped in bite-sized portions. The Aburagiri tree grows naturally in the fields and mountains, but in the Eiheiji region, people plant it in their home gardens and affectionately refer to it as the "sushi tree."