Hasegawa Anti-Bacterial Makisu Sushi Mat

Traditional bamboo makisu works perfectly well, but anyone who makes sushi regularly will know its biggest drawback: cleaning it properly can be a pain.

Rice and small pieces of food can become trapped between the bamboo strips and cotton strings, while natural bamboo also absorbs moisture and requires proper drying after use. The Hasegawa Anti-Bacterial Makisu is a modern alternative designed to make sushi preparation considerably easier to maintain.

Instead of bamboo and cotton thread, Hasegawa uses durable synthetic strips joined together with fine monofilament. The construction does not absorb water, dries quickly and avoids many of the hygiene issues associated with traditional bamboo mats.

The surface of each strip is lightly embossed to reduce rice sticking. This allows the mat to be used without wrapping it in plastic film, which is particularly convenient when preparing uramaki and other rolls where the rice sits directly against the makisu.

Despite the completely different materials, the mat remains flexible and handles very similarly to a conventional bamboo makisu, so there is very little adjustment required if you are already familiar with sushi rolling.

The Hasegawa Makisu is made from antibacterial materials and designed with regular commercial use in mind. It is dishwasher safe, bleach safe and heat resistant up to 100°C, making thorough cleaning and sanitising considerably easier than with a traditional bamboo mat.

The synthetic construction also helps prevent mould, splintering and deterioration from repeated washing. For restaurants, sushi bars or anyone making sushi frequently at home, it is a simple upgrade that becomes particularly noticeable when it comes time to clean up.