Olympics Sushi Soy Sauce Ban Outrages Japanese

[AsahinaKimi]

Japanese are aghast to learn that the 2012 Olympics has banned sushi sellers from providing soy sauce as there are no makers sponsoring the event, making the dish practically inedible to Japanese and further drawing attention to the increasingly farcical nature of the event.

According to the Japanese reporters swarming the event to give blanket coverage of their team’s humiliatingly tearful judo losses and the anticipated crushing victory of their women’s football team, all sushi on sale at the games has been banned from including wasabi or shouyu.

Diligent investigations lead to the discovery that all this was due the hyper-draconian sponsorship rules in force at the games – sushi suppliers say that as the condiments are supplied in sachets bearing the logo of non-Olympic sponsors, the event’s “logo police” have warned them they face a £20,000 fine if they use them.

Similar restrictions have affected the sale of lesser foodstuffs, with hawkers being forced into under the counter sales if they wish to provide branded snacks which have not paid up millions in advertising fees to the organizers.

more...http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/08/04/olympics-sushi-soy-sauce-ban-outrages-japanese/

[CreekDog]

1. what a joke

just ridiculousness.

[NightWatcher]

2. you cant eat sushi without wasabi and soy

that's just uncivilized

[RebelOne]

21. I do not care for sushi,

but I must have wasabi with any Japanese dish.

[CatWoman]

32. word!!!

[Chan790]

3. Why not give it away in white-label packaging?

There's nothing the IOC can say about it if sushi purveyors want to put a complementary no-brand-label bottle of shoyu out and a container of wasabi out. No labels means no sponsorship conflict.

[4th law of robotics]

4. I get wanting to find a sponsor for everything since you know it's all about money

but if none could be found maybe let people give the stuff away for free?

[dballance]

5. This is serious? Not a joke? Not the Onion?

It's ridiculous if it's true. The thought of having to smuggle Kikkoman and horse radish into London is all at once funny but stupid.

[frazzled]

6. Actually, for good sushi, Japanese frown on soy sauce

It's considered an insult to the chef, as if he did not prepare it properly and the taste needs to be covered.

[AsahinaKimi]

7. As Someone who is Japanese

I have never heard this. Mostly because most Japanese Sushi places provide their own soy sauce. If you read any of the comments on the sight, many of these comments came from a translated website from Japan. Both soy sauce and wasabi are used. I grew up with my father Who is from Osaka and my mother who is Half Japanese. We always had soy sauce on the table no matter what the meal, it was available.

[HockeyMom]

28. My daughter loves Sushi is but very allergic to Soy

She literally brings her own bottle of "fake" Soy Sauce when she goes out to eat Sushi. Do they use Soy Sauce sauce when they make the Sushi? I never thought so. You put it on after when it is served.

No restaurant has ever stopped her from bringing her own "Soy Sauce".

[AsahinaKimi]

33. According to Bonobo san

There are some Japanese restaurants in Japan, where the chef may bush on some soy sauce onto the raw fish. I have never seen that here. I like sushi, but prefer Sashimi. I have had soy sauce that had no salt in it, (as stated down thread). Kikkoman and LaChoy are large manufacturers of Soy Sauce, but there are some Japanese brands, found in Asian stores that are brewed some what differently, almost like a fine wine. The Chinese also have their own brands of Soy Sauce, some much thicker texture than others.


Sashimi



Sushi



Sushi Roll


dragon Roll

[Bonobo]

35. Kimi-chan, you need to see the movie "Jiro dreams of sushi"

That's where I saw him brush the sushi and customers were not dipping. Other than that, I have not seen it personally.

[AsahinaKimi]

47. I know about this movie and want to see it...

[Dorian Gray]

66. At high end sushi joints in NYC

They'll tell you no soy sauce. Sushi of Gari doesn't have it on the table, though if you ask for it, you can get it. Masa, Sasabune, and others are prepared to be eaten as is. But they make their sushi with a certain level of artistry. It's not just fish on rice.

Jiro Dreams of Sushi was a great movie. I think his preparations are what some of the other places are trying to emulate.

[sakabatou]

54. As long as it's not chimei sushi

A few of my friends in Japanese class made it:

Seaweed wrap
Thin sheet of rice
Butt-load wasabi

Warning: May induce vomiting.

[AsahinaKimi]

58. It depends on how fresh the wasabi is..

I have had wasabi that has "gone flat", in that when you put it on something, there is not as much "bite" as there was, during when it was freshly made (from powder form). I used to take it and mix it with mayo and make a kind of dip for crackers. That way it was totally mild. If you wanted to spice it up a little, you can always either add fresh wasabi..or put a little Sriracha sauce mixed into it. I love to eat it with Wheat Thins.

[sakabatou]

60. It was pretty fresh.

Tons of stomach churning bite (according to those that would eat it).

[Bonobo]

8. Someone told you wrong.

Unless maybe it is an incredible high price place where the chef brushes it with soy sauce first.

But come to Japan where I have spent 6 years of my life and TRY to find a sushi place where everyone DOESN'T use soy sauce. You won't.

Sushi without soy sauce would be like peanut butter and jelly without bread.

[frazzled]

10. Yes, by "good" I meant high-end

And I was told by native Japanese.

[Bonobo]

11. But ONLY if it is "pre-sauced"

and you do not see that very often.

So generally speaking, your observation that using soy sauce means the sushi was not well prepared is not correct.

Generally sushi is served without shoyu on it, except for a few special types.

So dipping in shoyu is the norm and not indicative, generally, of "disapproving" of the sushi.

[NYC Liberal]

12. That's the case in many high-end restaurants, not just Japanese ones.

Salt, ketchup, steak sauce...some consider putting them on your food to be insulting to the chef.

[AsahinaKimi]

13. I really doubt

Anyone at the Olympics are going to see high end Sushi. The ONLY reason they are not allowed to have Soy Sauce is because the Company did not support or was an official backer of the Olympics.

[NYC Liberal]

15. Oh I don't disagree.

I think this whole thing is ridiculous; there are have been other crazy stories about similar kinds of restrictions.

[petronius]

43. This post calls for an episode of Chef!

(Which I've probably posted before, but still relevant...)

[northoftheborder]

77. loved that show!!!

[Generic Other]

14. I never frown at soy sauce.

Never never never. It's the favorite vintage at my house!

[AsahinaKimi]

18. I know there are various Soy Sauce

companies like Kikkoman and Lachoy, but there are some very high end Soy Sauces that are brewed with the seriousness of a fine wine. I have tried some of these, (Most labels I can not read, because they are written in Kana), but once you taste them you are amazed. One of my favorites had very little salt in it, at all. poured in a small dish, with wasabi added, and slices of ginger, make your sashimi a real feast.

[FrodosPet]

25. That looks delicious

That settles it. Mid month September paycheck - going to the best sushi place I can find.

Then, 2 weeks of Top Ramen, because my food budget is gone. Totally worth it.

[AsahinaKimi]

29. don't forget to buy a

bottle of Kikkoman, to go with your Ramen! What I like to do is to open a package of Top Ramen, boil until soft, and then pull the noodles from the water into a bowl. Add a touch of Soy Sauce, a tiny bit of oil.. and break out the chopsticks!

she has the right idea!

[hifiguy]

72. Soy sauces are an adventure in themselves.

Kikkoman is the only US made soy sauce I've found that's palatable. I usually buy "Koon Chun" or "Pearl River Bridge" brand soy sauces at my local Asian supermarket. To my mind, Pearl River Bridge is the best Chinese style soy sauce. Chinese sauces come in "light" or "thin" and "dark." The former is what most Americans think of as soy sauce, "dark" is thicker and sweeter, with an almost molasses-like taste. It imparts spectacular color to dishes in which it is used. There are also mushroom infused soy sauces.

I plead woeful ignorance on the subject of Japanese soy sauces, which are as plentiful and complex as sakes.

[Codeine]

17. Ummm. . . no. nt

[sendero]

9. Well they (the money men) have ..

... fucked up pro sports beyond all belief, why not "amateur" sports?

[alphafemale]

16. WASABI!!!!!

Are you kidding me? How could you eat sushi without wasabi?

That's like a hot pretzel without the mustard.

It's like the Snicker without the Doodle. The Cracker without the Jack. It's like an M.

It's just a sad sad thing.

[AsahinaKimi]

19. itadakimasu!!!

?w=640
We can't forget the Asahi!

[alphafemale]

23. Looks like yum.

As long as there's no mayonnaise or cucumber involved I'm pretty much game for anything.

[sakabatou]

62. I eat it without

Too much bite for me.

[Alduin]

20. Pathetic.

[Coexist]

22. not to be a pain, or difficult.. but can't the customers get their sushi

then go buy soy sauce and wasabi at a grocer?

[Major Nikon]

24. Imagine going to the world series, buying a hot dog, ...

and then being told if you want mustard, there's a Piggly Wiggly down the street a few miles.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to buy Sushi at the Olympics anyway. Sounds like a good way to get a case of the running shits.

[MineralMan]

26. Not really. I've eaten sushi in many, many places,

and have never once had any bad reaction, and I guarantee that some of them weren't great sushi places. Not once, have I had any reaction other than, "Well, this isn't great sushi."

I even buy it in Minnesota from a run-of-the-mill supermarket deli case. There is a person making it there daily, but it's not super sushi.

The tuna isn't much good, so I skip it, but most of the other sushi is OK. It's reasonably priced, and makes a good lunch. On the other hand, there are several excellent sushi places in St. Paul. Sadly, I can't afford to eat at those very often.

[Major Nikon]

30. I'm sure the law of averages would be on your side

However, sushi is inherently less safe than eating cooked fish. Add to this the event atmosphere which leads safe food handling practices going to the wayside in many instances. I'm not that determined to tempt the fate of spending a few days in an already overtaxed hospital just to satisfy a sushi fix. Obviously there are people who will.

[Bonobo]

31. Actually the tuna is probably your best bet.

All tuna is flash frozen on the ships and so, as a consequence, there is less difference between the tuna you eat in MN and what is served in NY or LA.

[Major Nikon]

37. Not for these people

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/04/26/11413590-258-now-sick-in-salmonella-sushi-outbreak?lite

Albeit the tuna in question here was scraped from tuna carcases that already had the good parts removed, then reformed most likely with the help of stabilizers and dog knows what else. This is the type of tuna I would expect to see served at these type of events.

[Bonobo]

39. Nakauchi Scrape....

Ewwwwww....

[Major Nikon]

42. The pink slime of tuna

[Posteritatis]

40. If they're caught with it in or near Olympic venues they get a $32K fine. (nt)

[Ikonoklast]

27. That's just plain ridiculous.

No soy?

No WASABI!!????

NO WAY!

[AsahinaKimi]

34. This thread has made me hungry....

I am ordering some Sashimi now!! Yes, I know a place that delivers!


** Yoshi!! Ima, tabemashou! Itadakimasu! **

[petronius]

44. You have posted far too many delicious looking pictures in this thread!

You're in San Francisco, right? Any particular suggestions for sashimi the next time we visit?

[AsahinaKimi]

45. Yes!!

can visit my favorite place.. KUSHI TSURU in Japantown !

http://www.kushitsuru.com/

[petronius]

73. Awesome, thanks!

This thread is going straight to the bookmark file...

[athenasatanjesus]

36. My childhood friend who used to drink soy sauce won't be happy.

Personally I can't stand the stuff.I hate fish too.

[Bucky]

38. What's that sauce called that you dip tempura veggies in?

I wonder if that's banned, too. I use it instead of soy sauce sometimes. It has a milder, sweeter flavor.

Of course I'm outraged, too, about the crass commercialism of the Olympics here. It's like they're holding peoples' palettes hostage.

[AsahinaKimi]

46. basic tempura dipping sauce

The tempura dipping sauce, also called ‘tentsuyu’ in Japanese, is a much loved condiment to assist hot crunchy tempuras. Tempura is a popular Japanese dish of seafood like prawns, shrimps and squids or vegetables, which is lightly coated in batter and deep fried. Although tempuras have come to become a significant part of all Japanese meals today, one can trace its roots to Portugal. Flavorsome tempura dips add up to the zest of tempuras, making the dish even more delicious. Today, we have an extensive array of tempura dips, largely based on the variety of tempuras. Dips that complement different seasons of the year are also available. Readymade tempura dips are easily available in the market and come in host of different tantalizing flavors. However, if you wish to stir up your own dip according to your taste, here are some exciting tempura dipping sauce recipes for you to relish. Just read onto perfect your culinary skills!

Ingredients

1 cup Soy Sauce
1/2 cup Water
3/8 cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar
4 tsp White Sugar
1/4 cup Scallions (thinly sliced)

Instructions

Heat a pan and stir in the soy sauce, water, rice vinegar. Add sugar to this concoction and stir until it gets dissolved.
Before serving, add the scallions and serve hot.


MORE...
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/tempura-dipping-sauce-recipe-8601.html

[Bonobo]

48. It's best with daikon oroshi in it or "momiji oroshi"

Basic "tentsuyu" "tempura dipping sauce) is actually

-Dashi (basic soup made from konbu and katsuo bushi (bonito flakes)
-Mirin
-Shoyu (soy sauce)

To this, you should add daikon oroshi (ground daikon radish) or momiji oroshi daikon oroshi plus hot pepper and/or oroshi shoga (ground ginger)

[AsahinaKimi]

49. I think it was listed

or if not.. there was this:
Ingredients:

1 cup dashi soup stock
1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 Tbsp sugar
grated daikon (optional)

Preparation:
Put dashi, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar in a sauce pan and mix well. Bring to a boil on medium heat. Stop the heat and let it cool. Serve into individual small bowls. Add some grated daikon if you would like.

[Bucky]

70. Kimi...

Some days you, my love, are just an encyclopedia of awesome.

[AsahinaKimi]

71. *bows*

domo arigatou gozaimashita Bucky~sensei!

[Whisp]

41. is that stupid or what?

and annoying as hell. fuck the olympic committees that think this shit up.

disgusted.

[muriel_volestrangler]

50. Can you check this on the proper Japanese news site they link to?

That's http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/120803/erp12080309180000-n1.htm

It's just that this site in to OP in English is obviously a bit manic - "Whilst mere foreigners and certainly the British may not know any better, the exclusion of rotten soy bean juice from raw fish bits on rice has prompted some unusually critical reporting from the Japanese media, not generally known for its willingness to confront marketing excesses" - "The consequences of obsessive corporate sponsorship, crazed flag-buffing, media saturation and of course the drug-addled athletes, corrupt mafia organisers and pork barrel contracts for the host city have become increasingly controversial with the latest games."

I wouldn't put it past a site like that to get the story wrong.

[AsahinaKimi]

52. here..Translated by Google

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsankei.jp.msn.com%2Fworld%2Fnews%2F120803%2Ferp12080309180000-n1.htm&act=url

Sushi has been sold at the venue the London Olympics is "without rust" without asked, soy sauce does not come out crying even asked to reverse. (2 days Japan time) per day, was found in an interview with Sankei Sports that these cases have bought a large unpopular locally. Not afford it for that reason if you take the example of sushi, wasabi and soy sauce manufacturer does not have to sponsor the tournament. Consumer groups and local audience came from the world, has been strong opposition to the banning of "non-sponsor companies" too strict no case in the past. ( Sankei Sports )

"Common sense would ~Tsu sushi soy sauce!"

Insane audience from Japan, as well as instinctively want to complain in the blue-eyed Westerners, in the London Olympics site has Makarito~tsu common sense.

According to the supplier of sushi, pointed out the "logo police" commonly known as crack down on the sale of goods by companies that do not become a sponsor of the tournament, which contains the company name and logo of "sponsor" non-bag of soy sauce. Because of the fine (about 2.44 million yen) will be imposed, in each shop, it has been forced to sell £ 20,000 if the violation without the soy sauce. For the same reason I also do not have horseradish.

Near the stadium, but there are many shops, such as stalls, display is big no-no for obvious product also chocolate and gum, and candy, the manufacturer has not been a sponsor. When asked "chocolate? Some," and has become such a state of "City of Darkness" is passed secretly from under the counter.

page two

In this tournament, July 20, before opening, the = United Kingdom (55) =, in the radio program of the BBC "of Pepsi (which is the rival of Coca-Cola official sponsor) chairman Sebastian Coe of the Organising Committee remark audience was wearing a T-shirt logo, the stadium and "will not put. There was a one-act hastily organizing committee to deny the "individual freedom" attire of the audience.

Fri 11 sponsors and a huge international companies, 42 companies in the UK has paid in this tournament and is said to be (about 164.6 billion yen) Shimete $ 2.1 billion. Could do to bring their products to the audience sits wearing a T-shirt that contains the company logo of sponsor non-employees in droves, often reflected in the television camera, the "guerrilla advertising so-called" can not be denied.

In the past, companies that competes with sponsors has been shut out from the audience was, and there is a problem with the soy sauce and wasabi manufacturers do not think. The objection was consumer organizations in the UK, "to fear that the image's crackdown on excessive. Of the entire United Kingdom have forgotten the spirit of fair play is reduced", the organizing committee is the policy regulations will not change as a cancer that.

Be familiar with, there is only self-defense measures. (Especially sushi lovers), wasabi and soy sauce is a must watch our scheduled departure to Japan London Olympics now.

Abnormal protection intervention also sponsor lunch

It became an issue again and again in the tournament the past, the organizing committee is to encourage voluntary restraint or thing, bring a lunch audience that the regulation. Purpose but avoid beverages and foods of many companies other than the sponsor been brought, it reflected in the TV footage, the audience in general of course unpopular. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but using a portable radio made in the United States of venue staff, attention to consumer electronics manufacturers of South Korea was the sponsor. May be on the system for, was not forced to use made by the United States, the United States while using the product, and restringing to those of Korean manufacturers only the logo.


(**Google translator is not so hot but you can get the jist from the story.)

[muriel_volestrangler]

56. I had tried that, but it didn't seem good enough to know what's really going on

There's some kind of problem, but I wonder if it's the sushi seller being over-careful.

"According to the supplier of sushi, pointed out the "logo police" commonly known as crack down on the sale of goods by companies that do not become a sponsor of the tournament, which contains the company name and logo of "sponsor" non-bag of soy sauce." And it also talks about "the organizing committee is to encourage voluntary restraint or thing".

That doesn't specify the 'logo police' have said 'no sauce with a brand that's not a sponsor', just "commonly known as crack down on the sale of goods by companies that do not become a sponsor of the tournament". In general, it's been brands that are competitors of sponsors that have been banned - there was a fuss about chips (french fries to the Americans), because McDonalds sell them, and had demanded no-one else could. In the end (for the workers, at least) the compromise was that you could sell fish-and-chips together, but not chips on their own.

[AsahinaKimi]

57. Perhaps Bonobo san or

Art_from_Ark can translate it for you. I can speak Japanese, but I am not as skilled as they are, in reading it.

[geckosfeet]

51. Crap. No wonder rMoney is so proud of his time at the Olympics - it's a money machine.

[JonLP24]

55. The Olympics are a money making machine

It is a different story for the host but it is difficult to gauge. The Olympics use the all-or-nothing approach in order to get cities to compete for the right to host them, driving up the price above value. Then the cities/states/countries subsidize the construction and set-up costs(costs that are in the billions) -- taking a big risk in order to gain any possible financial rewards. I really don't know how well it did for SLC.

I think what Romney is proud about is there was corruption involved w/ IOC members taking bribes from Salt Lake City officials which risked them not hosting the games. Romney was hired in then the sponsors came back and SLC then was able to host the games. I don't know the specifics of Romney's involvement except for what I described. I have no clue if SLC turned in an overall profit.

[sakabatou]

53. Alphonse Elric is dissapoint

[AsahinaKimi]

59. Yes. Ed agrees

[sakabatou]

61. I think this would stop him:

[AsahinaKimi]

63. probably

[sakabatou]

64. With her, it's a wrench to the face

[AsahinaKimi]

68. I love Winry Rockbell

She has a crush on Edward, and she is so cute..

[sakabatou]

69. Oh it's more than a crush (warning: spoiler)

It's love. Hell they got married and had kids.

[sakabatou]

75. You know, I think I hijacked your thread, a lil

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

67. I don't understand the "outrage" when there are easy solutions.

#1) Soy sauce and Wasabi come in indivual packets. People planning on bringing sushi could probably stick a few soy and wasabi packets in their pockets or purse before heading out the door.

#2) vendors could provide soy sauce & wasabi in an unlabeled (non-logo) generic containers for use while at the vending booth... similar to the squeeze mustard and ketchup bottles you see at a diner.

#3) Whenever I get sushi to-go most places provide a few pieces of ginger, a dollop of wasabi, and small 1oz plastic cup of soy sauce. The condiments are essentially served on the side as part of the prepared dish - no individual labelled packets or logo problems.

[Posteritatis]

74. The outrage is that "solutions" for something like this are needed in the first place. (nt)

[derby378]

76. I want to march into the Olympics wearing a Dairy Queen T-shirt

With Kikkoman soy sauce packets sewn into the cuffs of my jeans for my Japanese friends.

God, that is seriously rude.

[mrs_p]

78. Damn, now I want some sushi

but live in a landlocked state. Drats.