💠Think About...
**Historical Facts:**
• During Japan's Edo period (1603-1868), the country was isolated from the world for over 200 years
• Sushi was invented as a way to preserve fish with fermented rice during this period
• The feudal system meant only samurai and nobles could eat meat - common people ate mainly rice, vegetables, and fish
• Edo (now Tokyo) became the world's largest city with over 1 million people
**Discussion Questions:**
- How did Japan's isolation during the Edo period affect what foods people could eat?
- Why do you think rice became so important in Japanese culture and cuisine?
**Activity:** First 5 minutes: explore Japanese feudal society and food restrictions by class, 30 minutes: make simple sushi rolls and rice balls like Edo period common people, 10 minutes: eat with chopsticks while learning about Japanese food customs and social structure
🔨 Your Project
**Today's Recipe: Edo Period Rice Balls (Onigiri)**
**Ingredients:**
- 2 cups cooked short-grain rice (cooled)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 sheets nori seaweed
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- Filling options: pickled plum, salted fish
**Steps:**
- **Season rice** - Mix cooled rice gently with salt using wooden spoon
- **Wet hands** - Dampen hands with salted water to prevent sticking
- **Shape rice** - Take handful of rice, form into triangle shape by pressing gently
- **Add filling** - Make indent in center, add small amount of filling
- **Close rice ball** - Cover filling with more rice, reshape triangle
- **Wrap seaweed** - Cut nori sheet in half, wrap around bottom like Edo workers did
- **Sprinkle seeds** - Add sesame seeds on top for extra flavor
- **Serve immediately** - Eat like traveling samurai and merchants!
**Cultural Connection:** These portable rice balls fed workers, travelers, and soldiers throughout Japan's feudal period!