Should Japanese chefs use gloves while handing sushi?

[abbby]

Is it a norm Japanese chefs here do not use gloves when kneading the sushi and preparing the sashimi? Been thinking about the hygiene level, if he had just been to the bathroom and forgotten to wash his hands...

[Lisafuller]

Most chefs in Japan do not use gloves when handling sushi as they are better able to mould the rice into the appropriate shape. As for your hygiene concerns, in order to operate without the usage of gloves the restaurant must have had to pass some sort of hygiene inspection to remain open, so I wouldn’t worry about that.