The Japanese bowl of vinegared rice topped with various seafood and vegetables is chirashizushi.
Chirashizushi is a style of sushi in which seasoned vinegared rice is served in a bowl or serving dish and covered with a colorful assortment of toppings. These may include raw or cooked seafood, shredded omelet, mushrooms, lotus root, bamboo shoots, cucumber, and other vegetables. The name refers to the ingredients being scattered over the rice rather than wrapped or pressed into a compact form.
There are regional variations. Edo-style chirashizushi commonly features uncooked seafood arranged on top, while Kansai-style versions often mix cooked ingredients into the rice. Different regions also use distinctive toppings and seasonings, making chirashizushi a flexible celebratory and home-style dish.
It is often associated with Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, celebrated in Japan on March 3. Chirashizushi is easy to prepare for groups and is frequently confused with makizushi, which is rolled in nori, or nigirizushi, in which seafood is placed on hand-formed rice.