Quick Talk Answers

1.  What do you know about the history of onigiri?

I think the origins of onigiri are 1,000 years old. They came from the gods The first onigiri were just rice. Then they started evolving. People began to add salt, then they wrapped them in dried seaweed, and then they started putting fillings inside them. Pickled plum was the first filling.

2.  Are onigiri good value for money?

Onigiri are great value for money. We can still buy them in some places for 100 yen. Convenience stores are in competition with each other to keep the price down. Onigiri are particularly good value for money now because the price of food is going up. I can't think of any food that's better value for money.

3.  What convenience stores have the best rice balls?

All convenience stores have great rice balls. They are in competition with each other to make novel onigiri, and, of course, tasty ones. Not all convenience stores sell my favourite rice balls. I love natto onigiri. Natto is fermented soy beans in English. It's really tasty. Some onigiri I like are hard to find.

4.  What do you think of onigiri fillings like cream cheese, tomatoes and Umaibo?

I think cream cheese and Umaibo are novel fillings. I'd be interested to taste them. If they are nice, I might buy them instead of tuna and mayo. I would worry about unwrapping tomato onigiri because juice from the tomato might come out. I'll try to look for a cream cheese rice ball, or make one.

5.  What do you think of the plastic wrapping on convenience store rice balls?

The plastic wrapping on onigiri is great. It keeps the soggy rice away from the dried seaweed. This means the seaweed stays dry and crunchy. The wrapping is easy to unwrap because the layers of plastic are numbered. Even a child can unwrap a convenience store rice ball.

6.  What do you think of Japan's kawaii (cute) food culture?

I think Japan's kawaii food culture is unique. Presentation is important in Japanese food, so anything that looks cute is good. I particularly like cute bentos. Some Japanese food is a hybrid of traditional Japanese food and Western food, like curry rice and hamburger steaks. I think kawaii food is like art.

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