Entering the Era of Convenience Sushi: Changes in the Cultural Meaning of a Connoisseur Cuisine
Keywords:
Sushi, food, convenience food, Japanese cultureAbstract
This paper explores the rise of convenience sushi in the United States. The first half of the paper walks through the history of sushi in the Western imagination and the cultural and technological catalysts that were key to its rise in the American palate. The second half of the paper is an analysis of convenience sushi, shedding light on the significance of this new era of sushi. By looking at this new sushi narrative as well as examining modern-day examples of both convenience and non-convenience sushi, I argue that, while sushi has historically been an object of the connoisseur, convenience sushi is a paradoxical object, retaining some of its appeal in feelings of "haute cuisine" while jettisoning many of the very characteristics (craftsmanship, exoticness, gourmet purity) that make the delicacy appealing.
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