Mehari-zushi – A Local Specialty Loved for Ages This video, titled "vlog｜Making "Mehari-zushi," a local dish of Kumano" (vlog | 熊野の郷土料理「めはり寿司), was uploaded by "manospun kitchen and garden." It introduces Mehari-zushi, a local specialty of Wakayama and Mie prefectures and how to make it. Mehari-zushi is a historical local dish that has been handed down from generation to generation in Japan's Kumano region. It is said to be one of the oldest "fast foods" in Japan, and this video will show you how it's made! Follow along with the video and learn how to make this delicious recipe from the comfort of your own home! More About Mehari-zushi, a Specialty of Japan's Kumano Region Photo：Mehari-zushi, a local cuisine from Japan's Kumano Region The name "mehari-zushi," comes from the phrase "Me wo Miharu" (目を見張る), meaning "to open one's eyes wide." This refers to the eye-popping expression made by people who see the size of the snack, one of the things that makes it unique. Rather than sushi, it might be more fitting to refer to mehari-zushi as giant rice balls, or a type of onigiri. The recipe is actually quite simple: pickle leaf mustard in salt and flavor it with a mixture of soy sauce, sake, and mirin (Japanese rice wine). Mehari-zushi has also been designated as an excellent souvenir recommended by Wakayama Prefecture, and is a specialty product of Japan's Kumano region and the Yoshino region of Nara Prefecture. Mehari-zushi bentos are sold in the Kumano region, and are often eaten by people working in the mountains or by farmers. Cut-up pieces of leaf mustard are packed into the balls of rice as well, making it a very flavorful delicacy. Mehari-zushi has been a local specialty for a long time, but it is now being sold in Ginza, Shinsaibashi, and other popular shopping areas in Tokyo and Osaka. The pioneer of this trend is Sohonke Mehariya, established in 1962. Sohonke Mehariya sells traditional Kumano specialty sushi from Wakayama Prefecture, and is famous nationwide for its mail-order and made-to-order services. Mehari-zushi – A Snack of Many Names Photo：Takana (leaf mustard) The main ingredients for Mehari-zushi are white rice, takana (leaf mustard), soy sauce, sake, and mirin (Japanese rice wine). When mehari-zushi was first being made, barley rice was used, but these days, white rice is the preferred choice. In some places, sushi rice is used instead of white rice, giving each region its own unique characteristics. It is simple to make, but you should keep in mind that it takes more than a week to pickle the mustard leaves, so it isn't exactly quick. You can see how mehari-zushi is made starting at 0:35 in the video. Mehari Sushi - Where to Try This Tasty Snack Photo：Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, a World Heritage Site in Wakayama Prefecture For those who find making it at home a little too difficult, you can still enjoy real mehari-zushi at restaurants in Japan. In the vicinity of Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine and Kumano Kodo in Shingu, Wakayama, there are several restaurants that serve traditional mehari-zushi. If you're looking to enjoy the authentic atmosphere where this Wakayama delicacy is made, we highly recommend a visit! Summary of Mehari-zushi, a Local Specialty of Wakayama and Mie Prefectures Mehari-zushi is said to be one of the oldest "fast foods" in Japan. As you can see in the video, it's a simple recipe, but it's characterized by the time and effort it takes to pickle the mustard leaf, as well as the depth of flavor, making it the perfect sushi to bring with you when traveling. Be sure to check out the video to learn how to make your own mehari-zushi!

This video, released by "Rakusan Cook" (楽参クック), is titled "ますの寿司」'Masu no Sushi' with trout salmon." This video shows how to make masuzushi at home using Donaldson trout, a specialty of Toyama. In the video they use a cake mold for the round shape of masuzushi. They also use Donaldson trout (called "trout salmon" in Japanese), and you can see how beautiful it is in the video!

Tekone Sushi - A Local Dish Representing Mie Prefecture's Ise-Shima Region This video, titled "How to make "Tekone Sushi" - Traditional Japanese Cooking with Hazuki Kajiyama" (「手こね寿司」の作り方 | 梶山葉月の伝えていきたい日本の郷土料理), was uploaded by "Recipe Book TV" (レシピブックTV). It introduces how to make tekone sushi. Tekone sushi is a local dish that originated in the Ise-Shima region of Mie Prefecture. Nowadays, along with Ise udon stores, it is one of the two most popular foods in Ise-Shima. In this article, we'll will introduce a recipe and how to make delicious tekone sushi. We'll also take a look at Japanese food culture a bit! The video shows you how to make tekone sushi, with step-by-step instructions on how to make it. Be sure to check out the video to see the tasty dish you'll be able to whip up! Simple Tekone Sushi - How to Make the Local Dish of Ise-Shima, Mie! Photo：Skipjack tuna fillet Tekone sushi is characterized by the fact that it is, simply put, sushi that you don't hold. Originally, it was made by placing fish fillets on top of sushi rice, but nowadays, the most common way to serve it is to sprinkle chopped seaweed over the top. Due to its simplicity and how easy it is to make, it has become a popular standard dish in daily life. In the recipe presented in the video, the savory vegetables, including shiso, Japanese ginger, and welsh onions, are first cut and soaked in water. Then, while the odor is being removed, you slice the tuna into small strips. As you can see from 0:33 in the video, red meat fish is used, but you can use any fish you like and still get a delicious dish. For the sauce, mix soy sauce, mirin, and sake in a ratio of 2:1:1, and then marinate the sashimi in the sauce. As shown at 1:21 in the video, the sushi rice is made at the same time. The key is to not only add vinegar, but also sugar and salt. Once the sushi rice is done, top it with the shiso leaves, fish, and the rest of the vegetables in that order, and you're done! It's a very simple recipe. Easy and Delicious! Learn the Origins and History of Tekone Sushi! Photo：Tekone sushi From here, let's deepen our knowledge of the origins and history of tekone sushi! The exact origins of tekone sushi aren't clear, but one theory is that a fisherman from Shima invented tekone sushi. During his busy days fishing for skipjack tuna, he would quickly slice up one of the fish he caught and make it into a bowl like this. It is a quick and easy way to eat skipjack tuna, and it's also rich in nutrients such as vitamin D, B vitamins, and iron, as well as EPA and DHA, which help to thin the blood. It was like an all-purpose, nutritious fast food that could be eaten on the fly. However, rice has been scarce in the Shima region since ancient times, and bonito was also caught in the surrounding seas, so there is a theory that the dish was eaten to celebrate a big catch, and was preserved as a celebratory dish. In any case, because of its deep history and the fact that it is loved by many people, it was selected as one of the Top 100 Local Dishes of Rural Areas by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and can be considered one of Japan's representative regional specialties. Summary of Tekone Sushi, a Local Specialty of Ise-Shima, Mie As shown in the video, tekone sushi is delicious and easy to make. The unique, hand-made sushi is different from the normal sushi most people are used to and is one of the most important local dishes in Japan, which is why it's important to pass on recipes to future generations. You can visit Ise-Shima and try it there or use this video/article to make some at home. Try one of Japan's famous local specialties!

Video introduction of Japanese food at Irori, a famous restaurant in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. This video, titled "Chef Masashi Yamada Serves Wild Game Hunted in the Mountains of Japan — Omakase Japan," was released by "Eater." It introduces the Japanese restaurant Yanagiya in Mizunami, hidden deep in the mountains of Gifu prefecture. Yanagiya is a famous Japanese restaurant and has been highly rated as the number one restaurant on Tabelog (a popular review sites for restaurants, hotels, etc. in Japan). It was ranked among the world's top 10 out of more than 16,000 restaurants in 2019 by La Liste, a French restaurant guide that showcases outstanding gastronomic establishments from around the world, and also received an award for outstanding regional cuisine. Many customers from all over the world come to Yanagiya to eat the local cuisine prepared by Chef Masashi. A Closer Look at Yanagiya, One of the Finest Restaurants in Japan Source :YouTube screenshot Yanagiya is a famous restaurant in Mizunami, Gifu, that serves exquisite regional cuisine using fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant is popular for its Japanese cuisine prepared on an irori. At 3:13 in the video, you can see the food being cooked on the restaurant's irori. An irori is a sunken hearth in the center of a room in older Japanese houses. The irori is blanketed with charcoal, and wood or charcoal is burned in it for heating or cooking purposes. The irori reflects the historical wisdom of Japan to create a space where people can gather in a circle to enjoy local cuisine in a heated room. Seasonal Japanese Food at Yanagiya – Taste the Four Seasons of Japan Source :YouTube screenshot A Variety of gourmet Japanese dishes, including popular game dishes, are prepared over Yanagiya's irori. The menu at Yanagiya features a variety of local ingredients, such as wild vegetables, river fish, (including sweetfish), eel, grilled duck skewers, and mushrooms, such as matsutake mushrooms, which give guests a taste of Japan's four seasons. Another popular dish on the menu is the delicious duck hot pot featured at 6:51 in the video. If you're not sure what kind of Japanese food to order, we recommend the Japanese course meal (和食コース料理) as it’s a great way to sample a variety of local cuisine. Summary of Yanagiya, a Restaurant Where You Can Enjoy Delicious Local Cuisine Over an Irori Source :YouTube screenshot As shown in the video, one of the unique characteristics about the way the chefs at Yanagiya prepare their dishes is the fluid handling of ingredients and instruments. The quick and experienced knife skills of the chefs will even provide entertainment for your meal. The cuisine cooked on the irori of Yanagiya is sure to create a lasting impression. Yanagiya is a famous restaurant, so be sure to make reservations in advance. ◆Yanagiya｜General Information◆ 【Address】573-27, Mashizume, Sue, Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture (〒509-6361 Gifu, Mizunami, 陶町猿爪573-27) 【Access】20 minutes by taxi from Mizunami Station on the Chuo Line 【Hours】[Mon. – Sat.] 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:00, [Sun.] 12:00 - 15:00, 17:00 - 21:00 【Closures】Irregular holidays 【Telephone】0572-65-2102 【Remarks】Yanagiya uses a 100% reservation system. You will be unable to dine without one. 【Yelp】Yanagiya (柳家) https://www.yelp.com/biz/%E6%9F%B3%E5%AE%B6-%E7%91%9E%E6%B5%AA%E5%B8%82-2

Gohei Mochi From Japan's Chubu Region This video shows gohei mochi being cooked and taste tested at a stall. Gohei-mochi is a local dish from the central region of Japan. It's made by wrapping rice crushed into powder around a skewer, toasting it, and finally dipping it in sauce and cooking it again. There are two types of sauce, one with a soy-sauce base, and the other with a miso base. These vary by season and region, but both are sweetened with sugar. Some of the sauce includes sesame seeds, walnuts, peanuts, and other ingredients, and there are many variations. You can find them at highway service areas and roadside stations in Japan's Chubu region, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!

Introducing Pufferfish Nukazuke This video, titled "Pufferfish “Nukazuke”: Delicacy from a Deadly Fish | Nippon.com: Japan in Video," was released by "Nippon.com: Japan in Video." Pufferfish contains a highly lethal dose of a poison called "tetrodotoxin" in its ovaries and liver. However, in Hakusan, Ishikawa and the Kanaishi District and Ono District of Kanazawa, there is a delicacy called "Fugu Nukazuke" (Pufferfish Nukazuke) which is eaten by fermenting the dangerous blowfish ovary for more than 2 years. It is only in this area of Ishikawa prefecture in Japan that the ovary of the pufferfish, which is prohibited by the Food Sanitation Law, is used as food. The ingredient used is Takifugu stictonotus ("Goma Fugu" in Japanese), which has particularly large ovaries and is good for eating. This can be seen from 0:09 in the video. The ovaries of Goma Fugu contain tetrodotoxin. But how do we get rid of this poison? The secret lies in the processing of the Pufferfish Nukazuke. Be sure to follow along with the video as you read this article! How the Delicacy, Pufferfish Nukazuke, Is Made Source :YouTube screenshot To pickle puffer fish, raw ovaries taken from the Goma Fugu are spread in a 1000 liter container and soaked in salt water with a concentration of 30%, for 1-1.5 years. The sodium contained in the salt has a dehydrating effect, and the water inside the ovaries becomes mostly depleted causing them to harden. From here, the ovaries are soaked in a fermented rice bran bed containing rice koji and chili peppers. At this time, they cover the ovaries with a wooden lid so that they do not come into contact with the air, and place a heavy stone on the lid. Then, in order to prevent oxidation, a kind of fish sauce stock called "Ishiru," made from sardines, is poured into the edge of the barrel. The tissue samples of the ovaries that have been soaked in fermented rice bran for six months to a year in this way are collected, and after the tetrodotoxin test results, they are shipped as commercial products if they are judged to have no effect on the human body. In the video, you can see the cook handling the Goma Fugu and removing the ovaries at 0:14. You can see how they're arranged and laid neatly in a huge container from 0:26 in the video. The finished Pufferfish Nukazuke, taken out of the fermented rice bran bed, is shown in the video from 1:11. Traditional Japanese Nukazuke Photo：Nukazuke Nukazuke is a traditional Japanese fermentation technique, but the scientific evidence for detoxifying lethal toxins such as tetrodotoxin has not been established. However, it is thought that tetrodotoxin may be broken down via the action of microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria that are born during the fermentation process. Since the time when medicine and science were still underdeveloped, the raw ovaries of the highly poisonous Goma Fugu were carefully fermented over a period of more than two years to transform them into harmless luxury foods. The depth of the history of some Japanese cultures is quite astonishing. Summary of Pufferfish Nukazuke Source :YouTube screenshot An amateur cannot make Pufferfish Nukazuke because a cooking qualification license is required to handle pufferfish. Pufferfish nukazuke is a very popular luxury food, and a specialty of Ishikawa prefecture, because the only manufacturer of Pufferfish Nukazuke is Ishikawa prefecture. Eaten as is, Pufferfish Nukazuke is delectable. br> It makes a great side dish with rice and sake, and it also can be used as a seasoning, so there are various Japanese foods you can use it with. Consider giving it a try!

Shimogo in Aizu, Fukushima This video, titled "Shimogo Promotion Video" (下郷町プロモーションビデオ), was uploaded by "ShimogoKanko." Shimogo is located in the center of Fukushima in Japan's Tohoku region. The area was known as Aizu until the Edo period (1603-1868) and it's a sightseeing spot with many charms. In Shimosato, there's a mountain in the direction of the rising sun where the gods are said to rest. You'll also find Kannon-numa Forest Park at the foot of the mountain, which can be seen from 2:39 in the video. You can enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons nurtured by the harsh climate of Aizu, and in fall, the area around the swamp is decorated with the colorful, beautiful autumn foliage. This article will provide information on recommended sightseeing destinations in Shimogo, where the blessings of Japan's rich natural environment, scenery, history, and culture are intertwined, alongside the video. A Tour That Connects the Past and Present Photo：Ouchi-juku in autumn, Shimogo, Fukushima The history of Aizu was a series of turbulent events that were swallowed up by the swell of Japan's modernization. It's said that after the Meiji Restoration, the Aizu clansmen were forced to move to an undeveloped area called Nakatsuma, where they established Minami Aizu. The traditions such as the Hange Festival and Ouchijuku Snow Festival shown from 3:18 in the video, were handed down from their ancestors. Shimogo is a town where ancient Japanese culture and traditions remain and where the present meets the past. Fukushima is best visited during winter as the snowfall in the region creates beautiful landscapes. There is an event called "Mizuki-no-hana-dango" (みずきの花団子) during Little New Year. It is an event to pray for health and longevity and colorful dumplings are stuck into the branches of trees that haven’t yet sprouted. This is a unique Japanese custom in Aizu to enjoy the long winter. This can be seen from 3:33 in the video. Sightseeing Information for Shimogo Photo：Shimogo, Fukushima, To-no-Hetsuri The beautiful scenery of the nature-rich town of Shimogo has always amazed the tourists who come to see it. To-no-Hetsuri, a marvelous landscape created by the Aga River (阿賀川, Agagawa), is a photogenic spot that you don't want to overlook when sightseeing in Aizu. Also, the buckwheat fields of Sarugaku Plateau is a place where Aizu clansmen lived through the turbulent times of Japan from the end of the Edo period to the Showa period. These can be seen at 2:12 in the video. The Aizu Line is a popular line with direct access to the Tokyo metropolitan area and is full of peaceful views. From 2:07 in the video, you can see mountain cherries in Toaka, and at 3:51the Nakayama Snow, Moon, and Fire Festival, where igloos and lights decorate a snowy Aizu. There are many popular sightseeing spots in Shimogo, Fukushima, including a snowshoe experience which is filled with the wisdom of Fukushima's ancestors who have lived through the harsh winters. The Food Culture of Shimogo, Fukushima Photo：Minamiaizu's local cuisine, Shingoro The Aga River, a quiet, clear stream flowing through Shimogo, is an important river that nurtures abundant life and is necessary for preserving the local culinary culture of Aizu. Upstream, there are many hot spring hotels and inns where you can enjoy a steamy atmosphere. You can relax at hot springs such as Yunokami Onsen after a long day of sightseeing. Fukushima is also famous for rice production. Shingoro is a local delicacy of Shimogo. It's made by rolling up a special type of rice, sticking it on a skewer, coating it with Junen (a kind of egoma) miso, and grilling it over charcoal. At the roadside station and Shimogo Town Local Products Center, you can find a different kinds of souvenirs of local food, such as soba noodles and local sake. Summary of Shimogo, Fukushima Photo：Shimogo, Fukushima The spirits and thoughts of the Aizu clansmen who lived through the turbulent times in Japanese history can still be found in Shimogo. The ancient traditions are kept alive by the people who love their town. The Shingo Furusato Festival, Shingoro, and Hana-dango during Little New Year are designed to heal the hearts of tourists, and to keep the healing alive, they will be passed on to the future. Please enjoy the attractions of Shimogo, Aizu, Fukushima, a town with beautiful, traditional Japanese scenery, by watching this video. 【Official Website】Aizu Shimogo Town, Fukushima Prefecture Town Hall Website https://www.town.shimogo.fukushima.jp/ 【Tripadvisor】Shimogo Town https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1120990-Activities-Shimogo_machi_Minamiaizu_gun_Fukushima_Prefecture_Tohoku.html