Have you tried revolving Sushi restaurants in Japan? Unlike a standard sushi restaurant with a counter, sushi revolves around customers on a conveyor belt. While you can put in specific orders, the appeal lies in the convenience of simply grabbing what you like as the plates pass by..

However, recently a spike in low carb diets among women in Japan has caused some eating habits to change. Frustrated sushi fans have posted some photos online of sushi rice (shari) left behind from women who come only to eat the topping (neta) of their sushi.

One of the most common phrases you will hear in Japanese is "Mottainai" (もったいない), which can translate to "What a waste!" and "Don't be wasteful." More than just a phrase, it's become a philosophy in Japan that has likely helped the country, an island nation, get everything they can out of every available resource, and translates very practically to everyday life. This new trend of leaving behind rice, something unheard of to older generations, is in direct conflict to that.

On the other side, Japanese women are cutting their calories by eating less sugar and carbs, and rice contains a lot of that. They have an image of being super thin as a standard of beauty, and even see it as a gateway to fortune as well, with images of thin idols and superstars present in all media. In terms of simple results, Slim = Success.

While many would say that its your right to leave undesirable food on a plate that you paid for, it seems odd to remove one of the two essential ingredients in sushi to do so--especially after coming to a restaurant that specializes in sushi.