Actually, sushimi is the proper word for raw the fish itself. Sushi is the word for the way the sashimi is prepared, which includes the rice, the nori, the vegetables, condiments, and so forth.Sushi is usually prepared with raw fish - this is usual. But it can be cooked fish, or sometimes not even made with fish at all (vegetarian style). Nearly all sushi chefs in the west are Japanese born, so whether west or east, this dish is usually prepared correctly unless you are going to a very low establishment, and I would never eat somewhere where the chef was not a licensed sushi chef.