Is there a word for the type of onigiri that comes in the triangular wrap that keeps the nori fresh?


The term "onigiri" covers all kinds of rice balls, with or without filling,
and with or without nori seaweed around it.

Is there a specific term that only covers the one class of onigiri available
in supermarkets and konbinis that is triangular in shape, has a filling, and
is wrapped in a special way that keeps the nori separate from the rice until
it is opened so that it stays crisp?

![specially wrapped triangular onigiri](https://i.stack.imgur.com/as6id.jpg)

(Side note: In Korean I don't know of a generic term for onigiri but there is
a term for this specific kind: "삼각김밥" [samgak gimbap].)




Not really. The closest is "三角のおにぎり" to describe the shape. Onigiri have been
made in many different shapes over time, including a round shape and the
occasionally clever shape that a creative mom might try to make. But many
people now think of triangular ones as the normal mode, so you wouldn't need
to say anything other than "onigiri" to imply the triangular shape. You might
need to use special terms now to imply non-triangular shapes, the same way you
might describe a "square hamburger bun" in English.

I'm not entirely sure if it's the shape or the packaging that you're concerned
with identifying. However, unless you're a packaging industry professional,
there's probably no need to make that distinction, and therefore there's no
commonly used term to describe that special packaging. The fact that you got
it at a convenience store or supermarket will be enough to imply this kind of
packaging, so you could just say "コンビニのおにぎり" if you got the product at a
convenience store.

In Korean the term you are describing, kimbap, without the "samgak" modifier,
usually implies a rolled sushi-like item which resembles makimono (巻物) in
Japanese. This may explain the need to use the "triangular" modifier in
Korean.

As a food geek, I can attest to the credibility of the onigiri explication
here: <http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-basics/onigiri-on-parade-guide-
onigiri-omusubi-rice-ball-shapes-types-and-fun>

