The Fascinating Thousands of Years Old Onigiri Rice Balls

Onigiri, also known as rice balls, is one of the most popular snacks in Japan. These delicious rice balls are the go-to food for most Japanese and are often found in 7 Eleven markets. The rice balls are commonly shaped in a triangle with different types of onigiri fillings and wrapped in nori seaweed.

In fact, Onigiri is so popular that characters in anime are often seen enjoying these delicious morsels. So, what exactly is the significant history of Onigiri in Japan? How do you make rice balls, and how are they used in anime/manga? Keep reading because we’ll be covering all of this for you!

History of Onigiri

Yayoi Period (Prehistory)

The history of Onigiri dates back over 2000 years ago. As on November 12, 1987, the oldest riceballs in the world were discovered, which were lumps of carbonized rice with human fingerprints confirming that it was indeed an Onigiri. They were found in a building created in the Yayoi Period in the Sugitani Chanobatake Ruins in the Ishikawa Prefecture. During that time, Japanese rice balls were flavored rice with salt seasoning covered in Bamboo leaves. The first time the word onigiri was seen documented somewhere was in the Hitachi Province Gazette from 5 Yōrō (721 AD), where it was written as nigiri-ihi, which means "crumpled rice."

Heian Period (794–1185 CE)

During the Heian Period, Onigiri was commonly known as ‘Tonjiki'; the name highlighted its convenience as "Ton" in Chinese characters means "to collect and bundle" and "instant." Tonjiki was made in small rectangular shapes with brown rice. They became common even before it was customary to use chopsticks since they can quickly be eaten with hands. As it was so convenient to eat them, Tonjiki became a typical snack for domestic servants to eat during events and picnic lunches. But it also became a food for the rich as it was a ritual to exchange the rice balls as gifts amongst the functions of nobilities.

Sengoku Period (1467–1615)

The onigiri rice balls continued to grow in popularity by the Sengoku period; it was commonly available as a cheap, convenient food that was served in "Bento" lunch boxes for farmers and given out in ration packs for the troops for a healthy, easy-to-carry meal.

Kamakura and Edo Periods (1185–1868)

Onigiri, made with glutinous, sticky rice throughout history, transitioned to being made using ordinary rice as it reached the end of the Kamakura period. The popularity of Ongiri is depicted in the wood-block-print by Hiroshige called "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" (1833-34), which shows travelers eating Onigiri.

The trend of wrapping Onigiri around processed seaweed, Nori, started in the middle of the Edo period, in the Genroku Era.

18th and 19th Century

One of the first foods ever to be approved for sale in Japan was Onigiri, and so it was served to train passengers in bento lunches in 1885 at Utsunomiya Station in Tochigi Prefecture. This bento comprised two rice balls with onigiri fillings of daikon pickles and umeboshi (pickled plums) wrapped around in

bamboo skin.

During the Meiji Period, Japan got its first school lunch menu, and even that had Onigiri, along with pickles and grilled fish.

By the 1970s, convenience stores started to emerge around Japan, and they even sold everyone’s favorite, onigiri rice balls, along with Nori.

Why is Japanese Onigiri so Popular?

Onigiri was always easy to eat, but it became even more accessible as new methods emerged. In the 1980s, a machine was invented to make triangular rice balls, which took away all the hassle because all you need to do with it is put the rice on it and fill it in between; the Nori was already on it.

Moreover, Japanese rice balls are wrapped in plastic packaging and refrigerated in almost every supermarket, so it is convenient and cheap to grab an onigiri on the way to work or as a quick bite on lunch breaks. Japanese people live hectic lives, and taking time to eat and prepare can be challenging. But Onigiri is easy to prepare and can be consumed very quickly without using utensils.

Onigiri's evolution didn't just stop until the 19th century because even now, a new type of Onigiri called "onigirazu” has become trending on social media. The onigirazu is like a Japanese sandwhich in which rice is spread on seaweed instead of buns, and different topings are put into it and then folded or rolled. Onigirazu is a more delicious and filling version of Onigiri, commonly made primarily by influencers.

How to Make Onigiri?

Onigiri is generally an easy dish to make, so even if you are entirely new to it, there's nothing to worry about. Here, we'll give you a step-by-step guide for it.

Cook your rice, place it in a large bowl suitable for mixing. Add furikake or any rice seasoning, thoroughly mix, and then separate it into portions roughly the size of a large handful.

Moisten your hands with water and a pinch of salt to keep the rice from sticking and to enhance its freshness.

Grasp one portion of the seasoned rice.

For adding fillings, create a hole in the rice, insert your chosen feeling, cover them with rice, and gently form into a spherical shape.

Hold the rice in your palm, shaping it into a triangular form by pressing with your fingertips and turning for uniformity.

Place a piece of nori underneath the onigiri (textured side against the rice), wrapping it partially up the sides

Onigiri Fillings Ideas

You can get creative with Onigiri fillings; it's up to you. But here are some of the commonly used onigiri fillings:

Traditional Ongiri Fillings

Umeboshi (Pickled Plum) for a salty flavor

Katsuobushi (Bonito Flakes) with Soy Sauce for a smoky and savory taste

Salmon: Grilled or flaked, it's been everyone’s favorite for years.

Tuna Mayonnaise can be used for a creamy, rich flavor, and shredded chicken.

Shiozake (Salted Salmon) is simple and yummy

Vegetarian and Vegan Onigiri Fillings

Pickled Vegetables

Avocado

Mushrooms.

Tempura Vegetables

Natto (Fermented Soybeans)

What Rice for Onigiri?

Ihe best Onigiri is made using koshiikari and sushi rice; since the grain is small, they stick well to each other and bring out a good shape. If that isn't available, you can use Japonica Rice (Uruchimai), known in Japan, or Calrose Rice, which isn't native to Japan. These rice types have medium to long grain but stick well.

Is Onigiri Gluten Free?

The main ingredients of Onigiri are Rice and Seaweed, which is why, traditionally, it is gluten-free. Many of its traditional fillings, such as pickled plums and salted salmon, are gluten-free. Just be careful when using gluten-free fillings and Soy sauce.

You're probably in the mood for some Onigiri, so we are introducing the Ichigo Island "Onigiri Starter Kit" to you.

Choosing the right products for making Onigiri can be quite daunting, especially for beginners. Hence, we've launched the Onigiri Starter Kit, which contains all the needed products for making the best Onigiri

Here’s what you get in our kit:

High-quality Sushi grade rice

2 Packs of crunchy Nori

2 Onigiri Molds for that Perfect Triangular Shape

Rice Paddle

An Official Pokemon "Furikake," which includes an exclusive collectible Pokemon sticker.

A convenient Ichigo Island “Onigiri Kit” container

An Official Ichigo Island Shirt

Onigiri in Anime and Manga

Anime and Manga often portray the Japanese culturue and cuisines, and one of the most common ones amongst them is Onigiri. It's common to see characters eating Onigiri or bento with their family at lunch or dinner. Moreover, characters playing as office workers are also often seen eating Onigiri while on their way to work or buying this snack from the convenience store, which again shows how, even in anime, it's a popular food.

It’s almost impossible for any anime fan not to feel the desire to taste this delicious-looking riceball anime.

In fact, there is an entire Japanese video game called “Onigiri” by developer CyberStep. The video game also has a 13-episode anime of the same name. There is also an anime called “Cogimyun," which focuses on the Sanrio character Cogimyun, a flour dough spirit who wants to become an Onigiri.

Onigiri's so simple, yet it even made its way to the fifth episode of the iconic anime for food lovers, Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma, where Soma cooks mackerel onigiri chazuke which looks delicious and definitely tastes good, too, because it impresses everyone there and leads to a draw.

You must be aware of Zoro's Onigiri, his three-way simultaneous slashing attack in which he crosses his two swords across his chest and uses the third blade in his mouth. It is evident that Zoro Onigiri has the same name as the infamous Japanese attack, but there is some wordplay here as Oni is an Ogre or Demon in Japanese folklore, and giri would come from kiru, which means to cut. So, Zoro’s Onigiri attack name might be Demon Cutter.

You may be craving some Onigiri by now. So, if you love Japanese food, look at our wide range of Japan-exclusive snacks.