Exploring sushi culture and Japanese culinary traditions.
Ask any sushi chef what makes great sushi and the answer is always the same: the rice. In Japanese, sushi literally refers to the seasoned rice, not the fish. Perfect sushi rice requires precise washing to remove excess starch, exact water-to-rice ratios, careful cooking, and seasoning with a specific blend of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt while the rice is still warm. The temperature, moisture level, and texture of the rice when it meets the fish determines whether a piece of nigiri holds together, releases properly in the mouth, and complements the topping. Great sushi chefs spend years — sometimes decades — perfecting their rice before they're trusted with fish. Next time you eat sushi, taste the rice first. It will tell you everything about the quality of the restaurant.
Indianapolis has quietly become one of the Midwest's most exciting cities for Japanese cuisine. Beyond sushi, the city now offers authentic ramen shops, izakaya-style restaurants, Japanese bakeries, and specialty grocery stores that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. This growth reflects both the city's increasing cosmopolitanism and the influence of Japanese automotive companies headquartered in central Indiana, which brought thousands of Japanese expatriates and their culinary traditions. For diners willing to explore, Indianapolis offers Japanese food experiences that rival much larger cities — from hand-pulled noodles to omakase counters to traditional tea service.