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By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

PEBBLE CREEK - Just as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey, Japan's harvest holiday is all about sushi. Specifically, it's about the rice.

Fall is the time of year when the Japanese begin harvesting the annual rice crop. Fruits and vegetables mature, and fish tastes its best.

'We call it shokuyoku no aki,' said Fumi Doi, owner of Wasabi Japanese Steak and Sushi. 'It means, 'season of hearty appetites.''

The restaurant, which opened in 2006, received its first shipment of the 2007 rice crop last week.

New rice is usually soft and slightly sweet, and a connoisseur can taste the difference.

The Japanese celebrate National Sushi Day on Thursday. Wasabi will recognize the holiday by offering free sushi lessons. Sushi chefs Shoko Steslicke and Sergio Chanquin will help customers create their own basic sushi rolls.

'It's about getting people to understand sushi,' manager Michele Ryan said.

'Most Americans think sushi is raw fish, but that's actually sashimi. Sushi is rice mixed with vinegar.'

A true sushi chef in Japan trains for five years just to learn how to perfect the rice. Chanquin, who trained in Miami, said learning how to properly handle the rice was the most difficult skill for him to master.

Doi said the restaurant also will offer drink and sushi specials. Anyone who takes a sushi lesson will be able to keep his or her roll.

He also will be showing off his personal sushi robot. The machine can form a roll in seconds, but it doesn't get used at Wasabi.

Ryan said all of the restaurant's sushi is rolled by hand.

'I could watch Shoko make sushi all day,' Ryan said.

'It's such an art, the way she uses her hands.'

IF YOU GO

WHAT: National Sushi Day

WHERE: Wasabi Japanese Steak and Sushi, 19601 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Call (813) 994-6600.

WHEN: From 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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