Gunkanmaki

Gunkanmaki is a sushi variety that consists of sushi rice that is formed into an oval shape and is then wrapped with nori seaweed. The piece is finished off with a topping that traditionally includes fish roe such as ikura (salmon), kazunoko (salted herring), or uni (sea urchin).

The name gunkan, which translates as the warship, was influenced by the oval shape reminiscent of a battleship. Gunkanmaki originated in 1941 at Kyubey, a small shop located in Tokyo’s Ginza that has since earned its name as one of the top sushi restaurants in the world.