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Eating sushi wasn't something normal people in the US did in 1985. It was a bit of a class marker that he was sophisticated and did crazy things.

I realize that sushi is pretty commonplace now but in 1985, for white Americans it was probably the craziest thing you could think of doing. It really freaked people out. Raw fish?

Time traveler from the 80s here to confirm, people freaked out about sushi.

Not so much "crazy" because it was in multiple places in my suburban location at that time. The 'Claire' character of "The Breakfast Club" movie of 1985, brought sushi in (what I remember to be) a bento box with her and I only read her as spoiled, not crazy.

There's plenty of sushi that doesn't involve fish or meat. Sashimi is raw fish. Sushi is more about rice.

And do you think people in 1985 understood that distinction?

Pescatarian - fish was the only meat he would eat.

He is said to have been a fruitarian for some time during his youth, but not later.