We’ve already gone over a few signs that you might not be in a real Japanese restaurant, including the location’s name. We can’t say with certainty, but we’re pretty sure there aren’t any “Happy Sushi” restaurants in all of Japan. So why are there so many abroad? Japanese website Naver Matome wondered the very same thing and compiled a list of the most elated raw fish from all around the world. It just makes us wonder, why does the world associate sushi with being happy?
Here’s a Happy Sushi in Bulgaria:
Image: Salami
Some Japanese netizens were wondering why they chose to write “Happy Sushi” in Japanese (幸せ寿司), but didn’t use a Japanese period, which looks like this: 。not this: .
▼Now that you mention it, why do they need a period in the first place?
Image: Salami
This next Happy Sushi is from Canada and comes with the added benefit of being not only fresh, but healthy too. The little happy face nestled between two chopsticks add an extra dash of happy.
Image: Yelp
Here’s winky Happy Sushi, also in Canada. Some Japanese netizens think this looks more like a curry house than a sushi restaurant.
Image: Callum Eats Toronto
Here’s one in Norway. It actually looks quite fancy…
Image: Yelp
This is the second Bulgarian Happy Sushi on our list, but this one is extra special. Apparently, waitresses are dressed in mini-skirt-length cheongsam, those body-hugging one-piece Chinese dresses, and the menu includes nigiri sushi, tempura, sushi sandwiches, and desserts shaped like sushi.
Image: Tsuredure Houkokusho
▼ One of the walls even has a sign with the first line of Japan’s version of “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.”
Image: Tsuredure Houkokusho
▼ The”nigiri mix”
Image: Tsuredure Houkokusho
▼ This appears to be the dessert sushi.
Image: Tsuredure Houkokusho
Michigan’s Happy Sushi has a four out of five star rating on Trip Advisor. Not bad as far as ratings go, but one of the commenters describes the food as “smokey, but good.” We’re not so sure about this place anymore…
Image: TripAdvisor
And finally we come to the last stop on our Happy Sushi tour around the world. This last one isn’t actually a restaurant, it’s a food truck serving up cheerful sushi to customers in San Francisco, California.
Image: Bay Area
▼ Local flair with a Golden Gate Bridge ‘H’
Image: Bay Area
We’re still not quite sure why so many sushi joints around the world associate Japan’s quintessential dish with happiness, but whatever makes them happy, right?
Source: Naver Matome
A visit to Sushi Dai, Japan’s best sushi restaurant according to world travelers
Ho ho ho! Merry fried chicken sushi appears in Japan!
If you love sushi so much, why don’t you marry it with these sushi rings and pendants?
Sushi restaurant’s crazy cheap lunch deal goes viral online
Insanely cheap Wagyu beef sushi box on sale at Japan’s one and only beef sushi restaurant
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Fukushima City on edge as resourceful and violent bear still not found
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Tourists brave Typhoon Jangmi to queue at two famous sites in Tokyo
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
The top 10 Japanese restaurants outside of Japan
Our Japanese language reporter visits a U.K. sushi chain, is blown away by its original “sushi”
A wild sushi chase: Our Japanese reporter tries Cuban sushi in a five-star Havana hotel
There’s only one place in Japan where this kind of sushi isn’t red, but why?
Mega Nigiri Sushi in Okinawa is top quality AND super cheap, a unicorn in the sushi world
Sushiro is making sushi so delicious that even McDonald’s should be worried
Sushi Ramen restaurant serves up the best of both worlds in one epic Japanese meal
Carb-free sushi? Japanese sushi restaurant ditches the rice in its new menu items
We check out Sushi Bar Yoshihachi, a taste of American sushi in Okinawa
Should it really take so long to become a sushi chef? Japanese entrepreneur calls system a scam
Japanese sushi chain responds to racism claims after serving excessive wasabi to foreigners
Tokyo’s all-female sushi chef restaurant has closed down, is being dismantled
Best all-you-can-eat sushi in Tokyo? High-end restaurant wows with great value-for-money deal
Is it gross to eat sushi that the chef pressed with his bare hands?【Survey】
Travelers pick the top three destination restaurants in Japan
Edo era-themed sushi restaurant to bring delicious food, historical decor to Tokyo this month