Japan Expo: Sushi Sushi Competition
Topic: Sushi
Sunday, Nov. 20, 2:00 PM

There’s so much happening across the country and Los Angeles this month in the Japanese Food world that it’s hard to pick just one thing to focus on. But with all that’s happening, you really can’t get any bigger than the 26th Annual Japan Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday, Nov. 20.

So, what is The Sushi Chef Institute doing this year for its part in the Japan Expo? Well outside of serving up some California Rolls, Inari Sushi, Spicy Tuna and a Spam Roll, we’ll be conducting a Sushi Roll Match on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Participants on the winning team will get prizes from our sponsors.

What exactly is this Sushi Roll Match, you ask. Simple. Two teams, Maguro and Hamachi - each with a mere 50 members (each “roller” get their own hachi-maki-banner) - square off in rolling a 24-yard sushi roll. It’s so big we had to get clearance from fire and police departments.

Once the rolls are completed, the chefs from the Sushi Chef Institute will cut up the roll and make a sushi tower that’ll probably be close to 10 feet tall.

There’s only space for 100 participants, so, if you want to come out and show us your sushi rolling techniques, you’ll need to register by going to www.japanexpo.org. Once registered, participants will need to confirm their spot by 1 p.m. on Nov. 20.

So even if spaces fill up before the expo, there may still be a chance for a few walk-ins. Otherwise, even if you don’t get to participate, it’ll be a great show, so come on by and check it out.

(By Andy Matsuda, founder and Chief Instructor of the Sushi Chef Institute located at Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.)