A Japanese Bamboo Sushi Mat, commonly known as a Makisu, is a traditional tool essential in sushi making, crafted from bamboo sticks woven together with cotton string.
Sushi chefs use these mats primarily for rolling maki sushi, where the mat's flexibility and structure help in forming tight, even rolls with precision.
Additionally, the bamboo mat can be used for shaping other types of sushi, such as temaki (hand rolls), and for pressing water out of ingredients like oshizushi (pressed sushi), making it an indispensable tool in the art of sushi preparation.