🍚 mehari-zushi
Mehari-zushi is a local cuisine eaten in the Kumano region spanning Wakayama and Mie Prefectures, the Yoshino region centered in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, and Shintotsukawa Town in Hokkaido. It is a bento-style rice ball wrapped in lightly pickled takana (mustard green) leaves. Some regions call it Senbari-zushi, Oba-zushi, Takana-zushi, or Bashoba-zushi. The bento is considered a specialty of Kumano, and the version from Shingu City is particularly famous, designated as a recommended excellent souvenir of Wakayama Prefecture. Originally made by wrapping barley rice, it is now primarily made with white rice, sometimes using vinegared rice. In Shimokitayama Village in southeastern Nara Prefecture, it is eaten wrapped in pickled Shimokita-harumana leaves, which lacks the pungency of takana, offering a different taste. Generally eaten with soy sauce or vinegar-soy sauce, it is sometimes eaten with mayonnaise and soy sauce.