Sushi Coloring Pages

Super Popular Around the World! Japan's Treasure "Sushi"

Sushi is a super tasty Japanese dish. You make it by putting fresh fish or shellfish on top of shaped vinegared rice. People all over the world eat "SUSHI" today. But it started in Japan as a food full of clever ideas!

The Long History of Sushi

Sushi started more than 1,000 years ago. But long ago, sushi was totally different from what it is today.

• The Start (Narezushi): A long time ago, people pickled fish with rice to make it last longer. Back then, they only ate the fish, not the rice!
• Hayazushi is Born: In the 1600s, people started using vinegar to make sushi. They made it sour with vinegar instead of waiting for it to ferment.
• The Edo Period (Nigiri Sushi is Born): About 200 years ago in the Edo period, today's "Nigiri Sushi" was born. People sold it at food stalls. It was quick "fast food", just like hamburgers today!
• Were They Different Sizes?: People say sushi in the Edo period was much bigger than today. It was as big as a rice ball! Today, you often get two pieces of Sushi on one plate. One story says this happened because the Edo period pieces were too big, so people cut them in half to make them easy to eat.

Types of Sushi and How to Make Them

Sushi comes in many shapes. Which topping do you like best?

• Nigiri Sushi: A chef gently squeezes rice by hand and puts a topping on top.
• Maki Sushi (Sushi Rolls): You spread rice on seaweed, put toppings in the middle, and roll it up. There are thick rolls and thin rolls!
• Gunkan Maki (Battleship Rolls): You wrap seaweed around the side of a rice ball and put salmon roe or sea urchin on top. It gets its name because it looks like a warship!
• Chirashi Sushi: You put rice in a big bowl, add seasoning and lots of toppings, and mix it while fanning it cool. People often eat it for special celebrations.

Differences by Region and Country

Sushi has changed in fun ways in different places!

• Kansai's Pressed Sushi: In places like Osaka, "Pressed Sushi" is famous. You put rice and fish into a mold and press down hard from above.
• SUSHI Around the World: The "California Roll" was born in America. You roll it with seaweed on the inside, and it has avocado and crab sticks. In some countries, people even add fruit or put meat on top!

When you color the Sushi coloring page, try to make the toppings look super fresh!

• Color and shine of toppings: Tuna is red, salmon is orange, and egg is yellow. After you color, leave a small white spot or use an eraser to make a shiny reflection. It will make the fish look shiny and fresh!
• How to color the rice: You can leave the rice plain white. But if you draw little shadows with light gray or yellow, it will look bumpy and yummy!
• How soy sauce looks: For the soy sauce dish, don't just use dark brown. Mix in a little bit of black to make it look real.
• Don't forget the side items: Color the "Gari" (ginger) next to the Sushi in light pink. Color the "Baran" (green divider) in bright green. This will make your picture super colorful and fun!

You can draw fancy patterns on the plates or even add a conveyor belt! Have fun making your very own amazing Sushi shop!

Salmon Sushi came from overseas

Salmon is super popular now, but long ago, people in Japan did not eat raw salmon. In the 1980s, a country named Norway sent a lot of fresh salmon that was safe to eat raw. That is how it became a regular type of Sushi!

Wasabi stops germs

Wasabi is not just in Sushi for its spicy kick. Wasabi can kill germs and stop them from growing! Long ago, people did not have refrigerators. Adding wasabi was a smart trick from the past to eat fish safely. Soy sauce and pickled ginger help stop germs, too.

The amazing job of Gari (pickled ginger)

Gari is the pink ginger that comes with Sushi. It cleans your mouth so you can enjoy the full taste of the next piece of Sushi. It also keeps your body warm and protects your tummy from getting sick!

Why green tea is called "Agari"

At a Sushi shop, hot green tea is sometimes called "Agari." Long ago, people thought the word for tea sounded like bad luck. So, they changed it and started calling it "Agari" for good luck instead!

It is okay to eat with your hands

You can pick up Sushi with your hands to eat it! You do not have to use chopsticks. Sushi started a long time ago as a quick snack you could eat with your hands. Picking it up gently lets you enjoy the soft rice made by the chef without breaking it!

A special name for soy sauce: "Murasaki"

At Sushi shops, soy sauce is sometimes called "Murasaki," which means purple. Long ago, soy sauce was very dark and looked like a deep purple color. Also, purple was a special color for fancy things back then, so people used that nice name for precious soy sauce!