The ban on early summer tradition Etsu fishing in Kurume has been lifted|Cooking started in Jojima
From Monday, May 1, 2023 to Thursday, July 20, 2023, the ban on seasonal taste "etsu fishing" will be lifted on the coast of Kurume City. Restaurants in the vicinity of Jojima Town have started serving Etsu cuisine from today.
Etsu fishing is a tradition in the Chikugo River in early summer, starting on May 1 every year. Etsu, which belongs to the anchovy family, lives only in the Ariake Sea in Japan. In May, they come back to the lower reaches of the Chikugo River to spawn.
Etsu has a unique texture and flavor, and when fishing begins, tourists come to Jojima in search of fresh Etsu. At the restaurant, you can enjoy a variety of etsu dishes such as tempura, stewing, washing, etc., as well as Nanban pickles, surimi dumplings, and soup.
There is a legend in Jojima Etsu that involves Kobo Daishi. It is said that in the past, when a poor fisherman on the riverside helped Kobo Daishi who was having trouble crossing the Chikugo River, he handed over to the opposite bank and threw a leaf into the river as a thank you, and it became Etsu.
Today, at the "Etsu Daishi Hall" that enshrines Kobo Daishi, the annual "Etsu Fishing Ban and Thanksgiving Festival" was held.
