Who were the sushi original practitioners?

The original practitioners of sushi were likely the people of Southeast Asia and later, Japan. Sushi's early form, known as narezushi, involved fermenting fish with rice for preservation, a technique that dates back over a thousand years. This method evolved over time, particularly in Japan, where it transformed into various styles, including nigiri and maki sushi, by the Edo period (1603-1868). Sushi has since become a global culinary phenomenon, but its roots remain deeply tied to Japanese culture and tradition.