Issue 4, November/December 2006 Is a Publication of the Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office What’s Up Aichi －Timely Tourist Information On Aichi Prefecture And The Surrounding Central Japan Region－

Aichi Fugu: a Taste to Die for The versatile fish can be enjoyed as for a thick broth unlike any in Japan. sashimi, deep fried, or simmered with Hatcho miso was first made in Okazaki If you consider yourself an adventurous seasonal vegetables. A warm glass of nearly 600 years ago, where it is still eater, and have tried all manner of sushi fuguhirezake, a light sake heated along produced using centuries-old techniques. and sashimi now widely available with a fragrant blowfish fin and set aflame The long fermentation process creates a throughout North America, perhaps a trip before drinking, is a great way to round out deep, aromatic bean paste that is favored to Aichi prefecture is just what you need your wintertime fugu feast. throughout the country for its unrivaled for your next culinary challenge. From late flavor and numerous nutritional benefits. October and throughout the winter, the Aichi’s auspicious geography provides an The thickness of the Hatcho miso broth region is one of Japan’s premier spots for ideal environment for blowfish to grow nice and the textured handmade udon noodles fugu, or poisonous blowfish. and fat, and fugu thrive in the Ise and ensure that every bite of miso nikomi udon Mikawa Bays and the Enshu Sea that packs a hearty flavor that is perfect in the make up the prefecture’s southern fall and winter months. coastline. The region’s best fugu dishes can be found on the Chita Peninsula, just In a recent poll, 20,000 Nagoya residents minutes from Centrair, or in several of chose the restaurants Yamamotoya Nagoya’s many restaurants. Honten, Yamamotoya Sohonke, Yoshinoya, Mendokoro Urugi, and Oshokujidokoro In Nagoya, Mifune, Hakata Honten, Miyoshi as the local favorites for miso Maneki and Sanraku are just a few of the nikomi udon. Twenty-thousand people Mmm…poison restaurants offering set style blowfish can’t be wrong, so be sure to try the dinners. delicious local dish next time you are in Many North Americans gained familiarity Nagoya. with fugu when Homer Simpson partook of On the Chita Peninsula, Uomasa and a poorly prepared puffer in a Springfield Ichibe are two of several establishments eatery and barely escaped death. You can that proudly serve the locally-caught fish Industrial Tour: be sure that Homer’s chef, however, was with all the trimmings. Okazaki Miso Village not from Aichi, where experts train for years to ensure that none of the deadly Visitors to Aichi can learn more about one poison reaches your plate, although some of the prefecture’s proudest products at diners claim to feel a suspicious tongue Hatcho Miso Village (Hatcho Miso no tingling when eating the fish. There is little Sato) in Okazaki. Museum patrons can real danger in eating blowfish as view the miso production process in the restaurants are required to hold a strictly exhibition area, housed in a 100-year old distributed license to serve it. A small building, and learn just how Japan’s most number of deaths that occur yearly popular miso is made. Materials and rare throughout the country, however, usually documents related to the city’s historical among fishermen trying to prepare the fish role as the provider of miso to the imperial at home, guarantee an ever-present sense Tastes just like mom’s fermented bean family are on display as well. of danger that somehow enhances fugu’s paste noodle soup! taste. Hearty Nagoya Flavor: Miso Nikomi Udon

If blowfish is not your thing, perhaps something of a non-venomous nature is what you are after.

Miso nikomi udon is a regional treat that starts with thick udon noodles, handmade to ensure the ideal texture. But the perfect World’s most popular bean paste museum

Careful! The white one is poisonous. noodle is just the beginning; the truly In addition to its miso tradition, the city unique Aichi flavor comes from Hatcho boasts a 500-year-old castle and several miso, a fermented bean paste that makes impressive shrines and temples. Located 220-year-old, five-story pagoda in Nakashitara 12/2 1 pm - 12/3 6 pm just 30 minutes from Nagoya by train, Nagoya’s Showa District by about the third Nakazaike 12/10 8 am -10 pm Okazaki makes for an excellent day trip. week of October. Tsugu 1/2 1 pm -1/3 4 am Futto 1/2 5 pm -1/3 6 pm Take the JR Tokaido Line or the Meitetsu Three large ponds reflect Okazaki Shimokurogawa 1/2 5 pm -1/3 3 pm line to Okazaki. For Hatcho Miso no Sato, Higashi Park’s crimson maples and Kamikurogawa 1/3 5 pm - 1/4 noon take the Meitetsu line to Okazakikoenmae traditional bridges. A zoo in the park Shimoawashiro 1/13 2 pm - 1/14 2:30 pm Station and walk two minutes to the makes it a perfect fall outing for families. Fukawa 3/3 6 pm - 3/4 8 am museum. Advance reservations are necessary for museum tours. Admission is Located in eastern Aichi’s Okumikawa free and the museum is open from 8:30 National Park, Mt. Horaiji offers Nagoya Christmas Lights am to 6:00 pm. breathtaking views throughout the year, and autumn allows visitors to enjoy the The western tradition of Christmas lights mountain at its most vibrant. Events to has caught on big in Japan, and Nagoya’s Aichi Fall Foliage Picks celebrate the fall colors will take place on holiday display is not to be missed. The November 23. city’s Christmas illumination has quickly Divine mystery, become well-known as one of the best and in these autumn leaves that fall brightest displays in the country. on stony buddhas Northeast Aichi’s Flower Festival -Sogetsuni November 3-March 3

Beginning in fall and continuing into early spring, Hanamatsuri, or Flower Festival, a series of mystical nighttime folk festivals dating back over 700 years, takes place around northeastern Aichi’s Toei town and Toyone village. Locals in the countryside communities perform over a dozen traditional dances to invoke a bountiful A Miracle on Meieki Street harvest. Korankei Gorge Already an impressive site with its twin JR A highlight of the festival is the “Dance of Central Towers soaring high above the city, Autumn in Japan brings with it the the Demon” (Oni no Mai), performed to JR Nagoya Station gets dressed up for the opportunity for unhurried anticipation of the observe the belief that a god would appear holiday season on November 10 and arrival of fall colors. By mid-November, before the people disguised as a demon. Towers Lights continues until January 8. Aichi’s landscape gives itself up to be Hanamatsuri culminates in the Yubayashi, In addition to brilliant, giant Christmas painted in the soft reds, oranges and in which festival-goers splash themselves trees, this year’s light display, themed yellows that have crept down slowly and with hot water in the hopes of protecting “Sometime, Somewhere, Someone, steadily from Hokkaido. their health for the year. Somewhere,” will feature Christmas drawings from primary school children With the turning of fall foliage comes the projected onto the east wall of the towers. realization that winter’s chill can’t be far behind, and the people of Aichi make the Visiting Towers Lights on Christmas Eve is most of this opportunity to enjoy the mild also a great chance to people-watch as weather one last time. Autumn is also a throngs of couples celebrate Japan’s most great time for foreign visitors to the region romantic day of the year. to get out and discover some of Aichi’s less-explored areas at a leisurely pace The JR Central Towers are located at while witnessing Mother Nature’s slow Nagoya Station in central Nagoya. costume change. When Festive Demons Attack

Throughout November, deciduophiles from Catch the Flower Festival at the following all over Japan flock for the Korankei locations: Maple Leaf Festival to see the 4000-plus Aichi Prefectural Government fire-red maples lining the banks of the Toei Festival 11/3 5 pm - 9 pm San Francisco Office Tomoe River in Asuke town in northeast Misono 11/11 4 pm - 11/12 noon c/o JETRO San Francisco Aichi. The trees are said to have been Misawa 11/11 5 pm - 11/12 9 am 235 Pine Street Suite 1700 planted by a monk who sowed a maple Kobayashi 11/11 7 am - 10:30 pm San Francisco CA 94104 each time he finished reading a Buddhist Higashisonome 11/18 5 pm - 11/19 8 am Phone: 415-392-1333 ex252 sutra. Tsuki 11/22 2 pm - 11/23 6 pm Fax: 415-788-6927 Ashikome 11/25 6 pm - 11/26 2 pm Email: [email protected] Burgundy maple leaves start to envelop Sakauba 11/25 6 pm - 11/26 7 am Akihiro Oyaizu, Douglas Shelton Yagotosan Kosho-ji temple, a Kouchi 11/25 6 pm - 11/26 8 am