None Kitchen in Toyo, Japan
Kokera sushi is an extremely rare sushi from Toyo, a seaside town in Kochi Prefecture. It is only available fresh on Saturday mornings at a local market. This unique dish resembles a sushi cake, with ingredients layered and pressed into tall wooden boxes. The base layer consists of rice mixed with yuzu juice and flaked mackerel. Decorative toppings include slivers of omelet, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and carrot tops. Thin wooden boards are placed between layers and a thick cover weighs down the top of the box. The sushi is pressed for a couple of hours, creating large, colorful sheets. These sheets are then cut into bite-sized rectangular pieces for sharing. Historically, kokera sushi was prepared for large gatherings and festive occasions. Facing a decline in makers, a group of women started offering classes and selling it at None Kitchen to preserve this tradition.
