Ehomaki Giant Sushi Rolls Are Becoming More Expensive and Outlandish Every Year

Early January is typically when sushi and seafood specialty shops begin to announce their lineup of ehomaki, the giant sushi rolls eaten on February 3rd for the Setsubun holiday. As some of our readers may remember from our in-depth article last year on the surprising origins, contemporary variations, and the environmental impact of the ehomaki phenomenon, Japanese department stores have taken what was originally just an overstuffed futomaki roll to new heights of extravagance.

Last year, we were considerably impressed by the price tag on an ehomaki sold at the Matsuzakaya department store in Nagoya for 7,580 JPY, lavishly decorated in gold leaf with a design that locals instantly recognized as a golden shachi gargoyle, one of several perched on the roof of Nagoya Castle.

However, this year, the top price for an ehomaki has more than doubled that amount! Deep-pocketed shoppers who visit the Tokyo Daimaru Department store's basement level food court on February 3rd will be able to take home the opulent offering pictured below:

Made by Nakajima Seafood, this ehomaki wrapped in gold leaf contains a whopping 19 ingredients, including bluefin tuna, fugu, caviar and sea urchin, and has a price tag of 15,800 JPY! Some astute ehomaki observers may point out that Nakajima Seafood made a similar sushi roll last year. However, it didn't include uni and it was 800 yen cheaper.

Only 10 will be made, so you had better line up early if you're hoping to take one home.

...... read the rest of the article on the grape Japan website

https://grapee.jp/en/108137