Sasazushi
“Sasa” is a bamboo leaf in Japanese, and sushi made of rice and toppings wrapped in a bamboo leaf is sasazushi. During the Warring States period (1467-1573), Sasazushi is believed to have originated from the Nagano prefecture, and various sources suggest that its origin was either because food was served on bamboo leaves, or because residents of Nagano were searching for a dish to please the visiting samurai warlord of the time, Uesugi Kenshin. A large variety of wild vegetables such as mugwort and bamboo shoots, walnuts, onions, miso, shredded omelet and salmon are used in the toppings.
Kakinoha-zushii
Kakinoha-zushi, which comes from the Nara area of western Japan and dates to the Edo era, is another form of pressed, leaf-wrapped sushi. A persimmon (kaki) leaf is bundled in this variant. Fresh seafood was always wrapped in persimmon leaves during transport before the days of refrigeration, since Nara is a landlocked area; not only did the leaf protect the fish with its antibacterial powers, it gave a delicate fragrance. Most typically, Kakinoha-zushi is produced by adding salmon or mackerel on top of the rice, but other ingredients such as prawn or eel may also be present. For visitors to the city, it is a popular omiyage (souvenir), and is available at local department stores and train stations.