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Is Japanese rice the same as sticky rice? What kind of rice is sushi rice? Is sushi rice the same as regular Japanese rice? It is not a surprise that there is a lot of confusion around types of rice and cooking rice. Today, we are going to address all of your frequently asked questions regarding rice in Japanese cuisine.
The significance of rice in Japanese culture cannot be overstated. It is the daily staple, a source of cultural identity, a driving force of the Japanese economy, and the fundamental element of Japanese cuisine. Whether you want to venture into Japanese cooking, or just want to make sushi for a party, the first steps are to learn the basics of rice.
Before we delve deeper, let’s take a quick look at the overall variety of rice out there.
Three Main Classifications of Rice
In general, the rice varieties can be classified into 3 groups—long-grain, medium-grain, and short-grain—based on their length-to-width ratio when cooked.
1. Long-Grain Rice
The grains of long-grain rice can be recognized immediately by their lengthy and cylindrical-shaped appearance. They are roughly 4-5 times as long as they are wide, and they are the most commonly used rice. When cooked, the rice stays fluffy yet firm, and the grains are separated and it is not sticky at all. Examples of long grains include Jasmine rice, Basmati rice, Mexican rice, traditional American long-grain white or brown rice, and European-grown style of rice.
2. Medium-Grain Rice
Medium-grain rice is usually about 2-3 times longer than it is wide. When cooked, the grains are tender, moist, slightly chewy and they tend to stick together a bit. Examples of medium-grain rice include Bomba rice (used in Paella), Arborio rice, and most of Asian-style rice such as Chinese-style rice.
3. Short-Grain Rice
Short-grain rice is short and plump and is only a tiny bit longer than it is wide. The rice grains cling together without being mushy when properly cooked. The grains have a higher starch content than regular rice.
It is also common where medium-and short-grain rice are combined into the same category, which can make for some confusion. Most of the Japanese rice belongs to the short-grain variety, although you can find medium-grain of Japonica rice being grown in California.
What is Japanese Rice
What types of rice are used in Japanese cuisine? For Japanese cuisine, you can find 2 basic forms of rice that are prevalent and both are considered short-grain cultivars of Japonica rice.
The first type of rice is uruchimai (粳米), known as the Japanese short-grain rice or ordinary rice, or Japanese rice in short. That’s the rice you use to make sushi, rice balls, and everyday Japanese dishes. It is also the type of rice being used to make sake and rice vinegar.
The second one is mochigome (餅米), also known as Japanese short-grain sweet rice or glutinous rice. It is commonly used to make mochi rice cakes or traditional wagashi sweets.
Although both the Japanese short-grain rice and mochigome are characterized by their sticky texture, they are used differently and are not interchangeable. Mochigome is so much stickier, chewier, and glutinous compared to the regular Japanese short-grain rice.
In the US and perhaps some other Western countries, you’d find Japanese rice has been referred to as ‘sticky rice’ by some people due to its sticky texture. Sometimes people also ask ‘how to make Japanese sticky rice’ when they are asking about making sushi rice.
Since ‘sticky rice’ does not have a definite meaning but is more of a convenient term or casual name to describe specific rice that is sticky, the usage gets muddled in different cultural contexts.
In the majority of Asian cultures, when we say sticky rice, it is typically referring to glutinous rice or sweet rice. So take note that while Japanese rice has a sticky quality compared to the other types of rice such as long-grain Jasmine or Basmati rice, it is not the same as sticky rice.
👉🏻 To learn more about Japanese glutinous or sweet rice, click here.
Then..What Makes Japanese Rice Sticky?
Because of its high proportion of starch and moisture content, Japanese rice is characteristically clingy and sticky. Starch is itself composed of amylose and amylopectin. When the level of amylose is low and amylopectin is high, you get sticky rice. That’s the kind of rice grown in Japan. The unique stickiness of Japanese rice is what makes a good sushi and defines the character of Japanese cuisine.
What is Sushi Rice
Is sushi rice the same as Japanese rice? Sushi rice is steamed Japanese rice that is flavored with vinegar-based seasonings and it’s only used for making sushi. In Japan, it is known as sumeshi (vinegared rice).
The confusion occurs when ‘sushi rice’ is used as a label for regular Japanese short-grain rice outside of Japan. Sometimes some recipes also refer to Japanese rice as “sushi rice.”
In fact, the regular Japanese rice is commonly cooked plain for everyday meals, whether it is for Japanese curry, donburi rice bowls or to make onigiri rice balls.
It is only when you are using the rice for sushi, you will then ‘sushi rice’ or sumeshi by seasoning the cooked Japanese rice with vinegar, salt, and sugar.
👉🏻 To learn how to cook the perfect sushi rice, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Japanese Rice
What about Calrose Rice?
Is Calrose considered Japanese rice? Calrose rice refers to the medium-grain rice that is grown in California. ”Cal’ as in a product of California, and ‘rose” indicates medium-grain rice.
Developed by the Japanese-Americans in 1948, they have been used as reasonably convenient and inexpensive rice of choice for many years in the US. They are not true Japanese rice, but they have a well-balanced flavor with moderate stickiness and are robust enough that most people and Japanese restaurants in the US use them for sushi and other Japanese dishes.
Is Korean Rice a Good Substitute to Japanese Rice?
You can say both Japanese rice and Korean rice are pretty much the same. They are short-grain cultivars of Japonica rice and come with the same natural sticky texture once cooked. The differences are where the rice is cultivated and how the Japanese and Korean prepare them.
In fact, the Japanese played a role in importing rice to Korea that replaced many of the native Korean rice varieties. You can read more about the history here.
So, the short answer is yes, you can substitute Japanese rice with Korean rice. It all comes down to personal preferences over brands and the origin of cultivation.
Can I Use Jasmine Rice for Sushi?
We do not recommend using jasmine rice at all for making sushi. Jasmine rice has a drier texture and different flavors, and the grains don’t stick well together. Your sushi (or rice ball) will fall apart.
Since you can easily buy Japanese rice online or on Amazon these days, our best recommendation is to buy a small bag and use it for your sushi and any other regular meals like Onigiri (Japanese Rice Ball) and Oyakodon.
On Just One Cookbook, we have plenty of recipes using Japanese rice, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to use up a bag of rice if you don’t plan on making sushi that often.
Where to Buy Japanese Rice
You can buy Japanese rice from Japanese or Asian grocery stores. Most of the major grocery stores like Walmart, Whole Foods, Target and local chains also carry some common brands which you can find in the Asian aisle. Alternatively, you can buy Japanese rice from online grocery stores or our Amazon shop page.
Which Brands of Japanese Rice Should I Buy?
There are many different brands of rice out there that can be used for Japanese cooking and for making sushi. In terms of quality, the Koshikikari variety is the most preferred Japanese rice and you can find various brands at Japanese grocery stores.
Here are some of our recommended brands of Japanese rice:
Shirakiku Rice, which is Koshihikari variety from California. Look out for the label ‘shinmai‘ 新米 or ‘new crop’ on the rice bags for the freshest crops.
Tamaki Gold (a California-grown Koshihikari) and Tamanishiki Super Premium Short Grain Rice (a hybrid of Koshikikari and Yuma Gokochi) are another two premium rice brands, but they can be also very expensive.
For brown rice, we enjoy Genmai Sukoyaka Brown Rice and Koshihikari Premium Sprouted Brown Gaba Rice. If you live close to Nijiya Market, you can also look for akita komachi brown rice.
Some people also highly recommend Lundberg Family Farms Organic Sushi Rice (Japanese short-grain rice).
For more affordable choices, you can try California-grown medium grain or hybrid variety that is widely available in the U.S. Botan Calrose, Nishiki, and Kokuho Rose are some of the standard brands out there. They may not be the best, but they are usually cheaper in price.
Japanese grocery store Nijiya Market sells Koshihikari rice from Toyama, Japan.
The judging criteria for the best Japanese rice usually include freshness, sweetness, shininess, and pleasant fragrance. You can give a few of the rice brands above a try. Once you learn how to cook them properly, you will be able to decide which rice you like most. And remember that good sushi is all about the rice. Use quality rice if you want good-quality sushi.
Variety of Japanese Rice
Japanese rice also comes in a variety— white rice, brown rice, and the newer crops that include genmai/GABA rice, Haigamai, Buzukimai, etc.
We have a separate post covering the varieties of Japanese rice.
👉🏻 To read more: Types of Japanese Rice
How to Store Rice
We recommend buying rice with the packaged size that can be finished by your household within a month.
Store the rice in airtight containers such as Oxo airtight containers, and leave any remainder in the bag. Seal the bag tightly with tape to seal in moisture and freshness. Refill the container when it is empty.
Different Methods to Cook Perfect Rice
Now that you’ve learned the basics of Japanese rice, it’s time to learn how to cook the rice properly. Don’t miss out on our helpful tutorial posts below:
Method 1: Rice Cooker
👉🏻 To learn how to cook the perfect Japanese rice with a rice cooker, click here.
Method 2: Pot on the Stove
👉🏻 To learn how to cook the perfect Japanese rice in the pot on the stove, click here.
Method 3: Instant Pot
👉🏻 To learn how to cook the perfect Japanese rice in an Instant Pot, click here.
How to Store Cooked Rice
👉🏻 To learn how to store cooked rice, click here. We keep it in the freezer!
Other FAQs Regarding Rice
Should I Be Worry About Arsenic Found in Rice?
Arsenic is a natural compound found in the soil, especially in the area where rice is grown. If you’re concerned about it, here are a few things you can do:
- Choose white rice over brown rice – It is the rice bran that holds most of its arsenic. For white rice, the rice bran has been stripped away so it has lower levels of arsenic.
- Choose reputable brands such as Shirakiku Rice, Tamaki Gold, and Lundberg. Lundberg Family Farms actually test their rice and publish the results on their website.
- Soak and rinse the rice thoroughly, and make sure you cook them well.
Another option is to follow the latest PBA method advocated by the Institute for Sustainable Food. It involves parboiling the rice in pre-boiled water for five minutes before draining and refreshing the water, then cooking it on a lower heat to absorb all the water.
If you follow these simple guidelines, you can enjoy your rice without any concerns.
How About the Nutritional Values of Japanese Rice?
Rice is naturally gluten, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar-free, which makes it an ideal source of carbs for energy. In general, brown rice contains more vitamins, minerals, and fibers. However, most rice manufacturers do enrich white rice to replace the nutrients lost during the processing.
Choose the type of rice that is suitable for your health and digestive system. If a higher fiber diet works better for you, then go with brown rice or vice versa.
I have diabetes. Which type of Japanese rice is better for me?
Whole grain rice is always the better choice for diabetics, as it contains the lowest GI (glycaemic index). Once digested it releases its energy slowly keeping blood sugar levels more stable, which is crucial in managing diabetes. But it’s important to enjoy rice in moderation.
For Japanese rice, you have the option of choosing Japanese brown rice, GABA rice, or Haiga rice. You can also make your own mix by combining brown rice with different healthy grains and seeds (adzuki beans, black soybeans, quinoa, millet, mung beans, black rice, etc).
Questions? Feedback?
Do you have any favorite brands of Japanese rice that are not mentioned in the article? If you have more questions regarding Japanese rice or sushi rice, let us know in the comment section below.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 18, 2018. The post has been updated with more information in March 2022.
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