By Eleanor Gee

Around 25 people learned to make sushi rolls with Japanese Chef Mr Endo at the Tanoa International Hotel yesterday, 7 August 2017, as part of an initiative of the Embassy of Japan to introduce Japanese food culture to Tonga.

Japan’s Ambassador to Tonga, HE Mr Yukio Numata said they came up with the idea because there are no Japanese Restaurants in Tonga and they wanted to showcase Japanese cuisine.

“We have chosen the sushi roll for it is symbolic of Japan’s charms, elegance and beauty. It is also very popular among Tongans and easy to prepare, especially with the range of vegetables and other ingredients readily available in the Kingdom.”

In addition, he said that Japanese cuisine has healthy attributes being nutritiously well balanced, with the use of a variety of fresh and raw food.

Using prepared ingredients such as cooked rice, nori sheets, strips of pork, egg, cucumber and carrot, Chef Endo demonstrated how to make sushi rolls as participants watched before attempting to make their own.

He also made chicken vegetable soup or kenchin-jiru, using vegetables such as mushrooms, radish, potato and leek to compliment the sushi rolls.

Chef Endo told the class that besides ensuring the food tastes good, the Japanese also like to ensure the food is beautifully decorated when presented.

The class also learned how to eat with chopsticks after successfully making their sushi rolls and everyone was provided with recipes to take home.

Japanese cuisine or washoku, was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2013.  

HE Mr Numata said that besides having healthy attributes, Japanese cuisine also connects with “annual events and the infusion of the beauty of nature through the four seasons in cuisines”.