Furikake
A Japanese seasoning sprinkled over rice, usually made of toasted sesame, nori, salt and a little sugar, often with bonito flakes.
Furikake is a dry seasoning blend for sprinkling, used in Japan mainly over cooked rice but also on onigiri, noodles, vegetables or fish. The base is almost always toasted sesame, crumbled nori seaweed and salt, and depending on the variety it may also contain bonito flakes, dried egg, shiso, wasabi or salmon flakes. It tastes salty, nutty and distinctly of the sea, often with a slight sweetness and strong umami, and it adds a little crunch as well. Because it loses its texture once it absorbs moisture, it is sprinkled on just before eating. Furikake is sold in small shaker jars or pouches at Asian grocery stores and online, and sometimes in the Asian aisle of larger supermarkets.
Substitute:
A simple blend is easy to make at home from toasted sesame, finely crumbled nori, salt and a pinch of sugar, with bonito flakes if you like. This matches the basic style well but not varieties with egg, salmon or shiso; sesame and salt alone lack the sea flavour and umami.