Japan has due to its geographical characteristic surrounded by oceans plenty of fish available fresh every day. Also rice is an important product of the Japanes agriculture.
These typical Japanese products - raw fish and rice - are the main ingredients for the famous Sushi and you will find all varieties of sushi recipes around the world. In Japan there is also a way of preparing simply raw fish without rice. It is called Sashimi.

Sushi

Sushis are small bites with rice soured with vinegar and topped with raw fish, sometimes vegetables and eggs. Sushi was invented in former times to preserve the fish with the rice and vinegar. Depending on the kind of fish it will also be served with Wasabi paste which is a green hot horesradishpaste. To neutralize the taste in between two different types of fish there should be served some pickled ginger.

Famous Sushi Recipes:

Nigiri sushi: The rice is formed to a bite-size ball. Then fish is put on top of the balls.
Nigiri sushi with salmon
Nigiri sushi with prawn
Nigiri sushi with tuna

Nigiri sushi recipes

Maki sushi: These Sushi are roll ups. The rice is put on a Nori sheet made out of seaweed and is rolled into this sheet with fish or other ingredients.
Maki sushi with salmon
Maki sushi with tuna
Kappa Maki
California Roll

Maki sushi recipes

Temaki sushi

Sashimi

You can also have raw fish without any rice just plain fish. This dish is called Sashimi.
The fish is cut into 8x3x1 cm pieces and served with soy sauce. Depending on the kind of fish it will also be served with Wasabi paste which is a green hot horesradishpaste. To neutralize the taste in between two different types of fish there should be served some pickled ginger.

Famous Sashimis:

Ebi: Prawn
Ika: Squid
Maguro: Tuna
Saba: Makerel
Sake: Salmon
Tako: Octopus
Toro: Fat part of Tunafish