Lettuce Roll, known in Japanese as Retasu-maki, is a distinctive sushi specialty that originated in Miyazaki City. It is made by placing lettuce and shrimp on vinegared rice, adding mayonnaise, and rolling everything together in a sheet of nori seaweed.
The dish was created in 1966 (Showa 41) by Shoji Muraoka, the first-generation owner of Ippei, a sushi restaurant in Miyazaki City. He came up with the idea in an effort to help his friend, the composer Masaaki Hirao, overcome his dislike of vegetables.
By combining crisp lettuce with shrimp and mayonnaise, Muraoka created a sushi roll that made vegetables more enjoyable to eat. The combination proved popular and gradually became established as a local specialty.
Today, Lettuce Roll is served at many sushi restaurants throughout Miyazaki City. Each restaurant adds its own ideas to the basic recipe. Some versions include tamagoyaki, a Japanese rolled omelet, while others are prepared as thin rolls or thick rolls.
The dish is also sold at convenience stores and prepared-food shops in southern Kyushu, beyond Miyazaki Prefecture itself.
With its combination of fresh lettuce, shrimp, creamy mayonnaise, and vinegared rice, Lettuce Roll offers a lighter and refreshing alternative to many traditional sushi rolls. Try different versions during your visit and discover the variations created by local restaurants.