The Origin of Fatty Tuna

These days, Sushi（寿司/スシ) has been gaining popularity around the world. Sushi is a traditional Japanese fast-food. It was sold at on street stalls in Edo era, around 200 years ago, and many ordinary people like farmers or and shopkeepers went out for eating ate Sushi because it was very cheap and easy to eat.

Usually, the most popular and expensive sushi topping is fatty Tuna（トロ) nowadays. It costs around 2-10 US dollars for a piece. Red tuna（赤身）is cheaper in price, and but the taste is plain.

However, in the Edo era in Japan, Red Tuna was more expensive than Fatty Tuna because fatty tuna is too oily to eat.The fat part of fish was removed in the cooking process. Fatty tuna was a cheap and instant meal for the people in of a lower class.

Then, the question will be raised here. When is it that did the fatty tuna has gained it's popularity?

Actually, it was around at the beginning of Meiji Era, which is was around in 1860. After the Black Ships, the fleet of United States Navy ships led by Matthew PERRY, came to Uraga port, the Western culture was brought to Japan. People started to eat chocolate and beef. People enjoyed the taste of Sukiyaki, (スキヤキ) a beef hot pot. So, the food culture was changed in to a western way. People came to prefer the "oily" taste in food. Around at that time, people rediscovered the taste of fatty tuna (トロ) as well.

Really good job well done:)