The Thtee Key Factors of Sushi Became a Pop Culture in Western Countries

THE THTEE KEY FACTORS OF SUSHI BECAME A POP CULTURE IN WESTERN COUNTRIES

The three key factors of sushi has become a pop culture in western countries

Jia Dong (Megan)

Student No. 5294996

PMPC6F01- Western Culture and Society

Victoria Steele

Bryan Butryn

Brock University

April 7th, 2014

THE THTEE KEY FACTORS OF SUSHI BECAME A POP CULTURE IN WESTERN COUNTRIES

The three key factors of sushi has become a pop culture in western countries

Introduction

Initially, sushi came form a way of preserving fresh fish. After the second word war, sushi spread to the United States, after that, sushi was more and more popular through the world. Nowadays, there are more and more sushi restaurants can be seen in western countries such as America, Canada and so on. The increase trend of sushi restaurants indicated that sushi has become a kind of popular culture in western countries. In fact, it has three key factors can explain why sushi can become one of a popular culture in western countries. There are the unique food presentation pattern, interaction, and the local market strategy.

Above all, in western societies, sushi can be a kind of popular culture due to its unique food presentation pattern. Compared with common restaurants, in a sushi bar, because of all of sushi will be prepared and accomplished in front of consumers, consumers can participate in the whole process of making sushi by observing sushi chefs who are in front of them to prepare and finish the process of making sushi.

Furthermore, through the unique food presentation of making sushi, consumers can ask questions and communicate with sushi chefs when they are making sushi, then interaction between sushi chefs and consumers can be built. As a result, consumers can have a special feeling when they eat sushi at a sushi bar.  

THE THTEE KEY FACTORS OF SUSHI BECAME A POP CULTURE IN WESTERN COUNTRIES

In addition, the local market strategy in a large extent helps sushi became popular in western countries. In different places and countries, sushi restaurants will change the ingredients of sushi to satisfy different diet and flavor habit of different consumers. Dietz’s (2005) study found the following: California rolls and Philadelphia rolls are two most popular kind of sushi in America, but depending on different diet and flavor habit in California and Philadelphia, the ingredients of California rolls and Philadelphia rolls are totally different. And Blog.92y.org’s (2005) study found the following: In Russia, sushi flavor is changed to demand a stronger and sweeter flavor habit of Russians, and sushi restaurant also afford Black Caviar sushi sandwiches to satisfy the special diet habit of Russians. In a word, another reason that makes sushi popular in western countries is focus on local market strategy.