Hidaka, Kochi Pref. ¨C I take a small amount of vinegared rice in my palm and deftly shape it into an oblong mound. I gently press on the topping and am filled with a sense of accomplishment as I gaze at my tray of colorful bite-size creations.
¡°Well done ¡ª they look very appetizing, don¡¯t they?¡± says instructor Mika Nakayama, as we carry our handiwork to the nearby dining table and sit down for lunch.
I¡¯m in the village of Hidaka, Kochi Prefecture, about 16 kilometers west of the prefectural capital of Kochi City, to participate in a sushi-making experience. On Shikoku¡¯s southern coast, Hidaka isn¡¯t so far removed from the sea, and the village is also considered the gateway to the nearby Niyodo River, but on the sushi in front of me, there isn¡¯t so much as a scrap of seafood to be seen.
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