The Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL) and the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia have recently organized the I Love Sushi travelling exhibition, taking visitors on a journey through the evolution of sushi.
Sushi isn’t just a bite-sized treat, but an art form. In Japan, it’s a way to preserve culture through a mixture of fermented fish and rice. Originating from narezushi—a fish dish fermented with salt, rice vinegar, and rice—sushi first made its way to Japan during the Yayoi period (10th Century BCE), eventually evolving into edomae-zushi, which was made with fresh fish and vinegared rice to be eaten immediately. This eventually evolved into the modern-day sushi that we know today.
It takes years to master the craft of sushi-making since precision is the name of the game. The ingredients need to be fresh, the preparation meticulous, and the presentation traditional, which makes it a popular dish yet difficult to master. From production to serving, sushi represents the balance and care that Japanese people value, making it a timeless symbol for the Land of the Rising Sun.
The I Love Sushi exhibit aims to educate visitors about the art of sushi-making, free of admission. It’s an interactive experience that showcases the history of sushi through 150 hyper-realistic replicas, historical scrolls, ukiyo-e prints, and video presentations depicting the traditional creation of narezushi to the modern rolls known today. Grab your friends and go on a culinary journey of food preservation at UR‑MU in The Toffee, Kuala Lumpur until December 31, 2025.