In Japan and throughout Asia, sushi is most commonly enjoyed in sushi bars, which are very social gathering spots, a little bit like the English pubs. In immigrant communities in America, people often gather in small groups to partake in this traditional food. Many use the opportunity to introduce a little "slice" of their culture to people of different backgrounds.

Preparation is probably best handled by just a few people--too many ingredients and sharp knives don't work with large groups. But once the rice, sliced vegetables and other fillings are prepared, the ingredients can all be arranged around a big table or counter with plenty of space, and everyone can get his or her own mat, or makisu. If there aren't enough mats to go around, people can take turns. You might want to appoint one person--an adult--to wield the sharp knife that will be necessary to cut the long rolls into individual pieces.

You can wait until all the materials are used up, and then sit down to eat them together, or you can eat them as you go. Put out gari, pickled ginger, soy sauce and wasabi for people to use. Although the first one might be a little messy, sushi rolls aren't difficult to master. And people can use their creativity to make different combinations and compare the results!