Rice ball is called "onigiri(おにぎり）" or "omusubi（おむすび）" in Japanese. It may be the simplest Japaense traditional food.
A bowl of rice seasoned with salt is transfered into shape of triangle, round or bale by a pair of human hand. Black thin dried laver seaweed(nori, のり, 海苔）is wrapped around the clot of rice.
Traditionally it is typical lunch box menu for pick-nick or other outdoor events.
In modern days, it can be found at any convenience shops as one of their majour products. They are made not by mother's hands but by indstrial machine at a factory. But they are likely to be a typical lunch menu of business people.
Normally a small piece of filling is inside of rice balls.
Filling is traditionally pickled Japanese apricot or small pieces of fruits of sea, such as grilled salmon, dried bonito, kelp, roasted cod roe.
Newer and modern fillings have tons of variation; tuna mayonnaise, fried chicken, fried shrimp, pickled vegetables, grilled beef etc etc...
It is maybe from 21st century even in Japan, modern onigiri/omusubi cafes or specialized shop opens as a category of first food, while major convenience chains launches higher standard onigiris with selected high quality ingredients but at higher price than normal productes.
It is a trend back to a good old days, when healthy mom's home-made dish was common everywhere.
Onigiri/omusubi chains:
Omusubito - http://www.omusubito.co.jp/
Gonbei －http://www.omusubi-gonbei.com
The oldest onigiri shop:
Yadoroku (in Asakusa) - http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~yosuke/
Onigiri cafe:
Ony - http://www.ony.jp/
Comments