Colorful sushi layers inspired by Boso Peninsula geology

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:32 JST, August 3, 2021

TATEYAMA, Chiba — Hotel chefs in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, have developed colorful sushi inspired by their surroundings: geological layers raised up by historic earthquakes.

The sushi has five layers, using rice mixed with colored powders made from vegetables. Photogenic as well as delicious, it is a popular addition to the Kyukamura Tateyama hotel complex’s buffet.

The new dish is called “gochiso-zushi,” a play on words as “gochiso” can be interpreted in Japanese as both “five layers” and “a feast.” Luxurious versions of the sushi, topped with high-end seafood or slices of wagyu beef, are also on offer.

Tateyama, at the tip of the Boso Peninsula, was hit hard by a powerful earthquake in 1703 and also by the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Strata that were raised to the surface by the disasters can be seen near the hotel, providing inspiration for the sushi.

Aiming to dispel the gloom many people may feel amid the pandemic, the chefs at the hotel complex hope visitors can feel uplifted themselves by enjoying the dish with their eyes and their palates.