Why don't you ever see women working at sushi bars making the sushi?

Question

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like anytime I go to a sushi bar, it's always guys that are making the sushi. Is there a reason for this?

Answer 1

♡My hubby and I eat sushi out often here in Japan. When I first came here I noticed the same thing!(*^o^*)
My hubby told me *it was tradition (it's a "man's world" in Japan) and *also a belief about women being warmer than men.
～☆It goes something like this:
"Women's skin is thinner than men, and there is a chance that their warmer hands would affect the freshness of the fish.
その質問に対する一般的な返事は、「女性の肌が男性より薄く温かいために、魚の新鮮さを損う可能性があるから」というものです。

Here's a few references:
http://www.tennmax.com/WST/cooking/sushi_NYT2004/sushi.htm
(↑Fourth paragraph.)
http://www.sushi-academy.com/pages/article/newyorktimes.html
(↑Second paragraph.)
http://www.nova.ne.jp/mamechishiki/contents/NOVA_STATION_DATA/station/snapshot/snap9809-2.html
(↑Scroll down to #.4)
☆☆～There could be any number of reasons though...long time tradition, a male dominated society, beliefs...
Hope this helps!♡

Answer 2

Hmmm. Now that you mention it, I have only seen men making sushi at the sushi bars I've been to. We have sushi at our market here in town. I know the woman who prepares it, so I know women are capable. If I were you, I think I would ask them about it next time you're there. There may be some traditional reasoning behind it. I know I'm going to ask next time I go out for sushi.

Answer 3

You're going to the wrong sushi bars. At least half the sushi chefs I know are women.

Answer 4

Cyn - its interesting you said that some people believe that the temperature of women's hands may affect the freshness of the fish.

I knew a guy who claimed that there were no female sushi chefs because the sweat from a woman's hands would affect the taste of the fish....... WHAT?????

Answer 5

Traditionally its a man's job to handle the knives etc. Also, sushi making is an art form specialized by men. the women work in the kitchens or serve in the restaurants.
there is no rule about it. its all about tradition.

Answer 6

Bacause in Japan women don't train to be chefs .. it's dishonorable.

Even though I would love to see female sushi chefs, it would be a rare happening because of the culture.

Answer 7

Probably for the same reason that in most cultures women don't do certain jobs.
1. the training is extremely long and intensive - and women have 'better' things to do..!
2. even when a woman DOES qualify in a career that takes years of training, she usually leaves when she starts a family, so why bother with years and years of work for nothing?

Answer 8

I've never really noticed that. I don't think that I've seen a female chef at any hibachi(sp?) grills.

Answer 9

overall there are more male chefs than female

Answer 10

cyn is right.