little wooden boats are found most often in sushi restaurants. The idea is this: the sushi chef makes up some plates of sushi and puts each plate on a little wooden boat, which floats along in front of the customers. If the customer wants the sushi, he takes the plate and eats the sushi on it. The waitress charges him by the plate (price is usually coordinated with the pattern on the plate). At intervals, the little wooden boats are laden with plates of wasabe and pickled ginger.