🍱 Suko-zushi

Facing the Ariake Sea, Shiraishi Town boasts a rich natural landscape of mountains, plains, sea, and rivers. Particularly, the Shiraishi Plains were reclaimed through repeated land reclamation projects from the medieval era to the present, becoming a fertile land for cultivating rice, wheat, vegetables, and more. Rice, in particular, has been a focus of continuous quality improvement efforts for centuries. According to tradition, over 500 years ago, the lord of the Suko district in Shiraishi Town valued the local farmers greatly and devoted efforts to enhance the quality of rice. Their dedication led to the fame of "sushi rice" and "sake-brewing rice" spreading nationwide. In gratitude for this lord's care, local residents crafted sushi using the abundant seafood and mountain ingredients and offered it as a tribute. This sushi came to be known as "Suko-zushi," and it continues to be cherished from generation to generation, an indispensable delicacy for celebrations even today. Characterized by its boxed-sushi style, it offers a simple and delightful taste with a variety of local ingredients. Originally, it used grilled mud loach (a type of fish), but due to its rarity nowadays, alternatives like shrimp or saury are sometimes used.