If you had to ask whether it's a meal or a snack...
I wonder which one it is.
- CATEGORY: Food culture
- THEME: Local Cuisine
- Interviewee: Nae Watanabe, Manakokeya
"Shingorou"
It's a traditional local dish from Aizu, but its ingredients and taste are unpredictable, and its appearance is quite mysterious.
It turns out that it's made by spreading junen miso, which is made from ground perilla seeds grown locally, onto non-glutinous rice and then baking it.
...Now, one of the popular tourist destinations in the Aizu region is Yunokami Onsen Station.
Passing through the station building, which features a distinctive thatched roof, you'll find yourself in a tranquil place surrounded by abundant nature, where you can enjoy natural hot springs.
There's a food truck that's rumored to pop up right near the station.
Apparently, they sell a smaller version of Shingoro there, allowing you to try it out...
The owner of the food truck is Nae Watanabe of Manakokeya.
When asked why she decided to open a food truck, she replied, "With the aging population, restaurants near the station have disappeared, so I thought I'd try to do what I could!"
"I made it red and checkered because I wanted to imitate the food truck that appeared in my favorite game."
The food truck has a distinctive design. It clearly reflects Nae's taste.
So why a smaller version of Shingoro?
"Shingoro is actually about the size of a rice bowl. We grill it over a hearth and eat it. But it's pretty big, so I thought it would be easier to eat if it were a little smaller."
Saying that, Nae-san prepares a warm bowl of Shingoro for us.
It's sweet! The sweetness of the miso and rice is perfectly complemented by the flavor of perilla seeds.
Is this considered a snack or a meal for people from Aizu?
"Hmm... I wonder which it is? I've never thought about it before. Maybe rice? Because, you know, rice is something you make to say, 'The new rice is ready!'... Maybe it's rice? Hmm..."
Incidentally, Shimogoro, the tourist mascot character of Shimogo Town, is a fairy version of Shingoro.
Apparently, the character is based on Shingoro being roasted over a hearth fire.
For locals, Shingoro is a traditional regional dish that has been around for a long time, so it's a normal part of their lives. But for those who aren't from the area, it's still a mysterious local specialty.
If you're going to try Shingoro, I recommend going to meet Naoko, the cheerful and bright Shingoro seller.
Place:
Shimogo-machi Yunokami Oshima Otsu 74
Nearest station: Yunokami Onsen Station