Hello,everyone !!
I’m Kazu !!!
”Suddenly, I apologize for the joke in advance, but recently inaugurated 47th U.S. President Donald Trump’s shift towards nationalism is vividly expressed in the catchy phrase “Make America Great Again” (MAGA). He defeated the Democratic presidential candidate in the previous election with this slogan, aiming to bring back the once shining America. Currently, he seems to be boldly implementing major reforms in line with MAGA, together with Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr. This time, I humorously replaced “America” in the famous MAGA with “Aso,” and I apologize if I took the joke too far. (ﾉД`)”
“By the way, today I was once again struck by the abundance of natural blessings in Aso and the breathtaking grandeur that I realized while viewing it from the perspective of our country. So, I’ll be uploading it immediately (#.#)
Realizing it immediately , let’s get started right away…
First, among the rich Japanese food culture, ‘basashi’ (horse sashimi) is particularly known as a delicacy favored by connoisseurs. The three regions of Kumamoto Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, and Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture are known as the “Three Great Basashi Regions” of Japan.
Kumamoto Prefecture’s basashi boasts the highest recognition nationwide and the largest production volume in Japan!!
When you hear “basashi,” the first thing that comes to mind is probably “Kumamoto,” right? Kumamoto Prefecture is the number one producer of basashi in Japan and is highly recognized nationwide.
The origin is debated, but it is said that the first lord of the Kumamoto Domain, Kato Kiyomasa, during his campaign to Korea, ran out of food and had to eat military horses, which turned out to be very delicious. After returning home, he continued to enjoy basashi and horse meat.
During the post-war food shortage, the tradition of eating horse meat began in the Aso region, which was a breeding ground for military horses, and by the 1950s, restaurants began serving horse meat.
The characteristics of Kumamoto’s basashi are its firm marbling and sweet fat. The part called “special marbling” melts in your mouth the moment you bite into it, and locally it is generally enjoyed with garlic soy sauce or ginger soy sauce (#.#). The rich umami flavor spreads throughout your mouth.
In addition to Japanese dishes like hot pot, sushi, and grilled dishes, horse meat can also be enjoyed in Western dishes like hamburgers and curry. The fresher the horse meat, the tastier it is.”
“The Three Great Pickled Vegetables of Japan
The Three Great Pickled Vegetables of Japan are “Nozawana-zuke” from Nagano, “Hiroshima-na-zuke” from Hiroshima, and “Takana-zuke” from Kyushu.
Pickled vegetables, or “tsukena,” are a general term for non-heading leafy vegetables in the Brassicaceae family, such as komatsuna, mizuna, nabana, and tatsoi, among many other varieties.
Among them, ‘Takana’ cultivated in the Aso region of Kumamoto Prefecture is smaller compared to Takana grown in flatlands. It is less likely to wilt when pickled, making it suitable for making pickles. It is harvested from mid to late March, and each plant is harvested by hand without using machinery (_;”
“Finally, I would like to focus on Aso Shrine, which is one of the ‘Three Great Towers Gates of Japan’ and is the most historically and culturally significant structure (^^♪
The ‘Rōmon’ refers to the two-story gate at the entrance of shrines and temples.
The three shrines are ‘Aso Shrine’ in Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture; ‘Kashima Jingu’ in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture; and ‘Hakozaki-gu’ in Fukuoka City.
‘Aso Shrine’ has been revered as the foremost shrine of Higo Province since ancient times. The main gate, along with the left and right ‘Shinkōmon’ and ‘Kangyomon’ gates, form a symmetrical precinct with the first, second, and third main halls behind them. The shrine buildings exhibit the architectural features and carvings characteristic of the late Edo period. Additionally, the history of construction and the names of the carpenters are well-documented, which adds to its high value (#.#)”
“What did you think?
Aso is famous for being ranked in the top three in Japan in three categories: the three great basashi regions, the three great pickled vegetables, and the three great tower gates! ^^
Oh, I just remembered!! (_;
Another well-known “Three Great Stubborn People of Japan” includes ‘Higo Mokkosu’ from Kumamoto! ^^
By the way, the other two stubborn people are ‘Tsugaru Joppare’ from Aomori and ‘Igosso’ from Kochi. This “Three Great Stubborn People” ranking might not be something to be too proud of? (:_;)
Anyway, this week I introduced ‘basashi,’ ‘takana,’ and ‘Aso Shrine,’ which are ranked in the top three in Japan, along with photos!
As you can see from the above photos, ‘basashi’ and ‘takana’ are widely displayed in our store, so please enjoy them! #^.^#
And ‘Aso Shrine’ is about a 15-minute drive from this roadside station! ^^
I apologize if it is a bit off-topic, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get a photo of ‘Higo Mokkosu,’ one of the “Three Great Stubborn People of Japan.” This concludes this Sunday’s blog! #^.^#“
