めはり寿ず司し

Meanings

rice ball wrapped in pickled leaf mustard greens

A regional specialty from Wakayama and Nara prefectures. The name comes from the phrase 目を見張る (to open one's eyes wide), because the rice ball is large enough to make you open your eyes wide when you eat it.

Kanji

寿longevity, congratulations, one's natural life
司director, official, govt office
目eye, class, look
張counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread
鮨sushi, seasoned rice
鮓sushi, seasoned rice

Related words

高たか菜な
Leaf mustard greens used to wrap the rice ball; the pickled version is a key ingredient of mehari-zushi.
目めを見み張はる
Phrase meaning 'to open one's eyes wide'; the name めはり寿司 is derived from this expression.

Written forms

めはり寿ず司し
Most common spelling; uses kana for めはり and kanji for 寿司.
目め張はり寿ず司し
Kanji spelling for めはり, less common but seen in some contexts.
目め張はり鮨ずし
Uses the older kanji 鮨 for sushi; rarely encountered.
目め張はり鮓ずし
Uses the rare kanji 鮓 for sushi; very uncommon.

Etymology

The name めはり寿司 is said to come from the phrase 目を見張る (to open one's eyes wide), referring to the large size of the rice ball that makes you open your eyes wide when eating it. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a well-known regional dish from the Kumano region.