Also, western "Sushi" is not the same thing as Japanese Sushi.
What Japanese people would consider "normal" Sushi we call Nigiri. These items will make up the majority of consumed items in Japan, where here we would consume primarily rolls.
They do not have these jam packed inside out rolls we see here, the only rolls you'll get in Japan are maki (one or two ingredient, very thin rolls, with the nori on the outside) and you usually only get 2 or 4 pieces at a time for these.
Dammit, now I want to get back to Japan for some good food again.
In my experience, the jam-packed, inside-out, sauce-drenched rolls are characteristic of chain restaurants and shopping districts in the west.
If you're near a big city, chances are there are also small, independent restaurants that make more traditional nigiri, maki, and sashimi. What they serve is what I consider "normal" sushi. It's the only kind I ever seek out.
Normal is not defined as what you seek out, but what's most common in the area.
I can only think of one Nigiri only place, and it's a specialty place in Vancouver in an absolute sea of 600 (this is around the actual number) sushi restaurants across the metro which do serve rolls.
If you go to Osaka, it's the exact opposite, 600 nigiri places to 1 roll place.
This is not accurate. Source: been living in Japan for 14+ years. In extremely rare cases (pun unintended but welcome) it’ll happen either at a high class joint (like in Jiro Dreams of Sushi) or in informal drunken situations, but if you come over here and start shoveling nigiri into your gob with your hands in a general restaurant setting, people are going to think you’re simply an idiot.
Jesus Christ, who chose the colors for that website?
Black text on brown??
Anyway, I am not really surprised. When I was in middle school we were required to eat burgers with fork and knife. Apparently using hands was "uncivilized". As I never really went with people anywhere, they briefly made me believe this is what most people actually do.
Haven't seen that since.