Talk:Onigiri

Why does 'Musubi' redirect here?

I was trying to find the meaning of the term because it appeared in a Megaten video game(Nocturne). But there's not explanation for why it redirects here.

Musubi is the same as Omusubi. It actually means knot, so it might have referred to some other type of knot than the rice snack. --GunnarRene 01:09, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

Onigiri shapes and sizes

My mother always taught me that you should never make completely spherical onigiri, unless you are going to eat them at a funeral. (It would be rude or bad luck otherwise.) We're from Hawaii, so I don't know if this is just a Hawaii thing. Has anyone else heard of it? I've seen a recipe or two on the internet that includes pictures of round rice balls, and if that's a bad thing we would do well to note it.

I've definitely gone to places and had round onigiri (don't know if they were "completely spherical"). They seem commonplace in Japan...so I think this is either your family's or a Hawaiian custom. --C S (talk) 09:29, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

The article does not indicate if there is either a standard or typical weight for onigiri sold in the convenience stores or of the popular brands of onigiri. As to machine-made onigiri, the hole size is probably the same dimension, so that may also determine how many cubic centimeters of filler ingredient is in a typical convenience store onigiri.AnimeJanai (talk) 09:40, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

pokemon

Why was it in the first few seasons of pokemon when Brock made onigiri they called them doughnuts?

Later Episodes referred to them as "sandwiches", so my guess is just crapy localizaton.164.116.71.226 20:11, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

In the Japanese volumes of Pokemon season 1, the Japanese voice actor for Brock affectionately calls the onigiri, "Sandoicchu", or sandwich. The english translators must have thought this was the literal meaning of the sweet rice food.

Some stupid Americans hate riceballs so much, that they re-paint them to look like sandwhiches, or call them doughnuts. RocketMaster (talk) 11:20, 31 May 2009 (UTC)

Reason for changes like that is simple - the editors think American/European kids don't know what "onigiri" is (and they're most likely right). Similar change was made in Sailor Moon, where an onigiri was called some kind of burger, if I remember correctly. -- 78.34.32.165 (talk) 14:54, 19 June 2009 (UTC)

In popular culture

The "In Culture" section of this article seems far too limited to references onigiri in Japanese anime, manga and video games ("culture" is indeed something far more broad). These anime references are largely irrelevant and it seems the writer improperly assumes that the reader is aware of these characters or stories.

This section should be edited for increased relevance and unnecessary references to anime, video game and manga characters should be omitted.

I think this whole section (which was apparently renamed "in popular culture" in response to the above comment) should be deleted. Note that the articles on chopsticks or green tea or the myriad Japan-related topics do not have an "in popular culture" section. Why should someone reading about chopsticks, for example, be subjected to trivia about manga or video game characters?

One reason that this section is so ridiculous is that like green tea or chopsticks, onigiri is very commonplace in Japan. Any type of Japanese media is going to make plentiful references to onigiri. This section only makes sense to people who are ignorant of Japan and think "onigiri" appearing in Pokemon or "Card Captor" is somehow interesting. Such a person apparently knows enough to know the appearance of chopsticks in such anime is not interesting in the least. I'm going to be WP:BOLD and delete the section. --C S (talk) 09:24, 27 December 2007 (UTC)

Cultural References

Don't the characters in Spirited Away eat lots of onigiri? Can someone correct me if I'm wrong? I remember Chihiro and Lin eating them after they wash the stink spirit.... Smiley200 19:55, 16 August 2007 (UTC)

Wasn't it Manjū? --Saintjust 00:25, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

Fruits Basket

So it states in the article Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket is depicted sometimes as an onigiri in the manga, but in the anime there is a little onigiri that is sometimes apart of the eyecatch.Smileyface 12 91 20:06, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

Seriously. If we're going to put these cartoon references in pop culture, then we should go reference how many cartoon characters eat pizza or spaghetti or oatmeal. M0u5y207.228.52.221 (talk) 15:18, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

But are the cartoon characters depicted as pizza, spaghetti or oatmeal? Tohru doesn't just eat onigiri, she is the onigiri. 202.89.136.90 (talk) 00:57, 23 September 2009 (UTC)

Kimchi

User:Bendono reverted[1] my edit with an edit summary "Well-sourced. Take it to the article talk page, not a private user page". So I took this here. One of the sources[2] is stale because it says that Kimchi was sold for a limited time from 20 May to 9 April 2007 at Circle K Sunkus. This in turn proves that it is not popular enough to be a regular menu. Another source[3] says two variations of Kimchi out of 32 are sold at a Onigiri specialty store called Omusubito. I don't deny it is sold in Japan. However the point is whether it is the typical fillings in Japan or not. Family Mart sells 18 varieties of onigiri but does not sell Kimchi.[4] According to the internet research firm MyVoice, the popularlity of Kimchi is placed 20th out of 22.[5] This research is distributed to many companies like Nikkei BP[6] Please note that Kimchi is just above "no filling". So, it is apparently POV to insist to list Kimchi in the list of 12 fillings.

The followings are the current list of fillings and the rank of popularlty by MyVoice. I think this list is well editied by reflecting the popularity except for Kimchi because 8th and 9th are not fillings. Furikake and Miso are not listed in the ranking probably because they are mainly used for home made onigiri. However I am willing to remove them along with Kimchi.

• Salted salmon 1
• Katsuobushi 7
• Canned tuna 3
• Ikura 12
• Mentaiko 4
• Tarako 2
• Kimchi 20
• Nozawana 11
• Tsukudani 5
• Umeboshi 6
• Furikake n/a
• Miso n/a

―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 06:14, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

A couple of comments:

1. The article was recently changed without any consensus or even discussion to state "typical fillings" in order to push the POV and shape this conversation. That should be reverted as well, but as long as that is clear I will hold off on that for now.
2. With the exception of kimchi, which is twice referenced, there are a grand total of zero references for the other entries.
3. We can not list all toppings, but at the moment there is not an extensive list either, so no need to remove kimchi in particular.
4. The 2007 citation was added in 2007. It was specifically added because it is a press release and more reliable that other references. Since then, many other convenience stores have and do sell it as well. Including, contrary to the above assertion, Family Mart (Does anyone object if I add this citation now, or should I wait until the discussion is complete?)
5. Regardless, convenience stores are not the only places that sell onigiri. Nor do you need to go as far as a specialty store either. I can add other references if desired.
6. Although the MyVoice Internet survey is hardly a reliable source, it lists (pork) kimchi at 12.2%, which is quite high.

Regards, Bendono (talk) 12:14, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

1. 1. You are objecting my addition of "typical fillings" to the list and expressing your wish to revert it. This proves you are admitting Kimchi is not "typical fillings". Moreover you changed the section name "Common fillings" to "Fillings".[7] immediately after removal.[8] This apparently proves you acknowledge Kimchi is not "Common fillings".
   2. Please think about why there are references only for Kimchi. It is because there are objections by editors.
      • Removed: [9] "Kimchi is not common"
      • Restored:[10] Bendono changed the section name "Common fillings" to "Fillings".
      • Removed:[11] "Kimchi variant was a temporary product"
      • Added a citation:[12] Bendono added a citation of non temporary product.
   3. Yes, there is not an extensive list yet, however no reason to list the least popular filling to the list.
   4. No one deny onigiri with Kimchi filling is sold in Japan. As I said above the point is whether it is popular enough to list 12 entry list.
   5. See above.
   6. Please prove MyVoice is not a reliable source to rank the popularity of onigiri fillings. Its summary is published by Nikkei BP[13] and the article links to MyVoice. "it lists (pork) kimchi at 12.2%, which is quite high" is you POV totally ignoring the ranking of fillings.

   Why do you continue to insist clearly uncommon Kimchi which you think is neither "typical filling" nor "common filling" to be listed? Is it because Kimchi is your most favorite filling?

   ―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 00:17, 6 January 2010 (UTC)

First of all, let me remind you of WP:NPA and WP:AGF. Many of your statements are addressed directly to me and try to divine my thoughts. Please comment on the contents, not me. I will try to keep my response impersonal and relevant to all editors wishing to participate.

1. Regarding whether kimchi is common or typical: various convenience stores such as Family Mart sell it, as well as regular restaurants. (See article for other citations.)
2. References were added in accordance to WP:BOP. There may be a variety of reasons that it has been opposed in the past. I could guess, but will refrain from speculating. In any case, I don't like it is not appropriate and valid citations are there.
3. Surveys indicate that it is liked by more than 12% of the people. That is more than 1 in 10 people. That is a very significant number of people and is reason alone for inclusion.
4. If you have questions whether the Internet survey at MyVoice is a reliable source, you may ask here.
5. The above tabulated ranking borders on original research: "synthesis of published material that serves to advance a position". Specifically, it applies the popularity rankings to the list of fillings in our article. Also note that the MyVoice poll is survey of personal tastes, not about typical fillings or sales. The relevance of which is questionable.

Regards, Bendono (talk) 02:56, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Please don't accuse me of WP:NPA and WP:AGF without reason. Shouldn't your accusation be blamed to be WP:NPA and WP:AGF?

1. 2. 3. Not worthy of response again.

4. The burden of proof is on your shoulder because you are objecting the reliability of MyVoice.

5. Please provide a reliable source to prove Kimchi is high in ranking about typical fillings or sales. If you cannot, your insistent is POV.

I will remove it from the list. If you revert it again, it will become edit warring and you will be blocked from editing. If you wish to restore it, please prove Kimchi is popular enough to be listed. ―― Phoenix7777 (talk)

Do not accuse others of edit warring when you are the one repeatedly removing sourced content. Do not threaten editors with blocks as you are not an admin and clearly do not understand WP:3RR. --NeilN ^{talk to me} 05:09, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Please stop your disruptive editing. If you continue to vandalize Wikipedia, you will be blocked from editing.

Is this template for admin only? Please keep in mind that you are one of the involved person because you reverted the edit without reason.[14] Why don't you prove Kimchi is popular enough to be listed?. And I didn't "repeatedly" remove the content. I did only "once" before this time.[15] Your insistence of "sourced content" is proved to be invalid for supporting Kimchi by above discussion.――Phoenix7777 (talk) 05:25, 9 January 2010 (UTC)

Does the "12 fillings" have some special significance? Tradition? Ritual? Or is it just a list that at this moment happens to have 12 items? Because a trivial Google web search does show kimchi filling in onigiri is rather common, at least among English language foodies. If Phoenix7777 can persuade me that a highly reliable source is required for one item on the list, then I will be persuaded that the entire list requires the same quality of reliable source. --Una Smith (talk) 17:45, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Another thing. I see the kimchi filling has been the subject of edit warring for weeks at least. If you all do not settle it here, to the satisfaction of all parties, I or someone else not involved in the content dispute will request full page protection. --Una Smith (talk) 17:52, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Una, your revert[16] is quite inappropriate because you never participate in the ongoing discussion. It is considered as vandalism. Moreover you are misunderstanding above discussion. The point is not whether Kimchi filling is sold in Japan but whether it is "common" or "typical" filling. As I noted above Kimchi is the least popular filling and Bendono acknowledges Kimchi is neither "common" nor "typical" filling.

That said, It is not productive to continue this trivial issue so long. So I propose a compromise to finish this argument as follows;

1. Make a new subsection "Other fillings" and move Kimchi there.
2. Make a new subsection "Other varieties" and list varieties other than fillings.

The results should look like; (the order is based on above research by MyVoice.)

Other fillings

• Tenmus (shrimp tempura)
• Tori-soboro
• Yakiniku
• Kakuni
• Unagi (grilled eel coated with a sweet sauce)
• Kimchi
• Cheese

Other varieties

• Takikomi gohan (five ingredients mixed rice)
• Yaki-onigiri (toasted rice balls)
• Sekihan (Red Bean Rice)
• Chahan (Fried rice)
• Omurice (omelet made with fried rice)

―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 21:14, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

• Phoenix7777: This unilateral revert was inappropriate because no consensus has been made. Please review WP:CONS.

• Regarding above issues 1, 2, 3: Just because you choose not to respond does not nullify the relevance of the comments nor indicates any consensus.

• Bendono acknowledges Kimchi is neither "common" nor "typical" filling. Please do not try to speak for me. I make no such acknowledgment. Rather I make the exact opposite conclusion. This statement is backed by the existing citations as well as the above FamilyMart citation that I would like to add eventually. In addition, this weekend I was at a bookstore browsing. There are many books and magazines about onigiri. Nearly all of them had multiple recipes for kimchi onigiri. If necessary I can add citations for several dozen books.

• MyVoice is an internet survey ranking personal likes. It is inappropriate to determine common or typical. If you wish to use it, you could add a new section to the article ranking personal likes. But that is a separate issue and unrelated this topic.

Regards, Bendono (talk) 03:48, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

OK I understood. I will add another sections leaving current content intact. ―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 05:11, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Looks acceptable. Thanks for participating in the discussion. Bendono (talk) 08:00, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Sorting

The article has previously sorted each filling by alphabetical order. This is to achieve a NPOV perspective. Sorting the arbitrary list by by the internet survey (MyVoice) is both unnecessary and inappropriate. I have restored it to alphabetical order. Bendono (talk) 08:13, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

I agree. Also, in light of the dispute about this, I think it would be helpful to devote the list to fillings for which, individually, a reliable source is provided. Reliable sources would include cookbooks and perhaps commercial manufacturer websites. Omit claims about what is "typical" or "common". --Una Smith (talk) 14:58, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

Una, I totally disagree with you. Virtually every ingredient can be fillings of onigiri. You can easily find many recipes of onigiri in commercial websites. If you add "Curry onigiri" or "Bacon onigiri" found in the same source as Kimchi to the list and insist "this is the typical onigiri", it is extremely difficult to prove "it is not a typical filling" with a reliable source. Someone said this as Probatio diabolica. So some kind of "commonsense" is necessary. The encyclopedia should be the place readers unfamiliar with onigiri can find what is a typical filling and what is not. So it is very important to classify typical fillings and other fillings correctly. ―― Phoenix7777 (talk) 22:21, 11 January 2010 (UTC)

It seems to me the content dispute will not end until either (a) the list is removed or (b) reliable sources are provided for each and every filling listed. I would remove the list. None of the sources offered so far re "typical" fillings is what I would call a reliable source. --Una Smith (talk) 00:08, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I see the content dispute continues in the article. I have moved the entire disputed section to Onigiri/varieties. Please work it out there. --Una Smith (talk) 00:22, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Varieties

Okay, the article is now fully protected for a few days, so there will be no edit warring on it while this content dispute is settled. The section about varieties is now a subpage: Onigiri/varieties. Once the article can be edited again, and the dispute is settled, the section can be copied back to the article. --Una Smith (talk) 21:57, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

About the MyVoice survey: did the survey give a list of choices, or were the survey responses free choice? That makes a huge difference in the interpretation of the survey results. --Una Smith (talk) 21:57, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

Please note that creating subpages in articlespace is not the appropriate manner of dealing with this type of situation; it needs to be hashed out on the talk page or on a user subpage. Accordingly I'm moving the list back here. Bearcat (talk) 04:44, 29 June 2010 (UTC)

Varieties

Plain, no fillings Marinated Tuna mayonnaise Fried Ham pork chop Korokke Menchi katsu Shrimp Tonkatsu Stir fried Pork kimchi Kakuni Maguro Pork Dried Okaka Processed roe Ikura Mentaiko Sujiko Uni

Shiokara Shutō Squid Soboro Denbu Salmon flakes Chicken soboro Tsukudani Asari Chili pepper Enokitake Hijiki Kombu sand lance|Kōnago Kyarabuki (butterbur stalks) Matsutake Nori Shiitake Shiso Sichuan pepper

Pickled Inakazuke Kimchi Nozawana Radish Shibazuke Takana Takuan Umeboshi Wasabi Miso Anda'nsuu (pork miso) Kinzanji miso Nattō Negi miso Tai miso Grilled Anago Chicken teriyaki Cold cuts Beef galbi Salted salmon Sausage Tara Tarako Unagi Yakiniku

MyVoice survey

In a 2008 internet survey by MyVoice, in Japanese, the most popular fillings were:

1. Salmon
2. Tarako
3. Tuna mayonnaise
4. Mentaiko
5. Konbu
6. Umeboshi
7. Katsuobushi
8. Takikomi gohan
9. Yaki-onigiri
10. Tenmus
11. Takana
12. Ikura
13. Tori-soboro
14. Sekihan
15. Chāhan
16. Yakiniku
17. Kakuni
18. Unagi
19. Omurice
20. Kimchi
21. No filling
22. Cheese

References

triangular onigiri

it seems to me that triangular onigiri is actually a rounded tetrahedron (all 4 sides are triangular) than a triangular prism (2 triangular sides and 3 not-triangular sides). 72.74.77.66 (talk) 19:21, 30 December 2012 (UTC)

Taiwanese equivalent of triangular convenience store style onigiri

A Taiwanese version of the triangular style onigiri is also sold in convenience stores in Taiwan and in Chinese is known as "三角飯糰" (Sānjiǎo fàntuán). Though currently they are not covered in the relevant article Ci fan tuan.

The more "typical" types of fantuan however might not really resemble the "typical" types of onigiri. — Hippietrail (talk) 10:10, 1 February 2014 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Japanese Translation

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 31 January 2023 and 17 May 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Megosh (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Megosh (talk) 16:11, 14 March 2023 (UTC)