【Local gourmet】Nakadomari Town in Aomori Prefecture is a savior from heaven "rockfish"!
In late November, when I participated in the Tohoku Block press briefing held in Tokyo, I became interested in the local gourmet "Nakadomari rockfish" in Nakadomari Town on the Tsugaru Peninsula, which was promoted by the person in charge of Aomori Prefecture. When I hear the word rockfish, I react. I wonder if people who fish will understand. Rockfish are cherished in the sea fishing world.
Although there is no quantitative data, rockfish is probably a commonly known fish. Even in Tokyo, connoisseurs of fish sell a few fish every day, and you can often see them in supermarkets. You can serve it as a material at the sushi restaurant of the general who likes fishing. If you are an adult, a dozen times in your life, at least several times every 2-3 years. You should be eating stewed rockfish (and I'll proceed with my own guess).
On the other hand, it is a pity to see rockfish that are unsold even if the half-price sticker is attached to the fish shop that the reporter goes to is about to close. It is not limited to rockfish, but it is discarded or barely becomes a raw material for something. Even if the name of the rockfish is known, there is an image of a fish that cannot become a major fish on the table of ordinary households.
What is the "Nakadomari rockfish" that the reporter who has such thoughts heard? What's more, Nakadomari Town is this rockfish, and it's solid? I was interested, so I talked to the people involved in the Nakadomari Town Hall and the fishery cooperative, and tried rockfish.
Nakadomari rockfish and ordinary rockfish?
"Nakadomari rockfish" is a rockfish, but the official name of the fish species is "rockfish". The reddish body of the fish resembles the high-class fish "". "" is similar to "Kinme". Even if you know the name, it is difficult to recognize the fish if it does not have a name tag on the sales floor. The actual "Usmebaru" is this fish. The body of the fish is red and glossy.
In Aomori Prefecture, "Usumebaru" is usually called rockfish. In 2018, the ordinary rockfish was registered as a regional collective trademark "Tsugaru Kaikyo rockfish" by the Kodomari Fisheries Cooperative. This is an indication of their willingness to sell more and more local "Usmebaru".
A trademark registered by a regional organization (unlike a general trademark) requires information such as the status of awareness of the product and transaction record. (Patent Office Examiner).
The fishing grounds of "Usumebaru" are the coast of the Sea of Japan in Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, and Niigata prefectures. Fish landings in Aomori Prefecture account for more than 50% of the four prefectures, and by far the largest in Aomori Prefecture is "Nakadomari Town (Kodomari District)". The fishing ground is a rocky reef area with a depth of 80~150m offshore. The fishing method is a fixed gill net with strict rules and a gentle single line fishing fishery Are.
Does that mean that the "number one in Japan" landing of "Usumebaru" is Nakadomari Town? The official website and flyers advertise that it is "the number one in Aomori Prefecture". For products with a limited harvest area, the area may be the denominator conservatively. In terms of public relations, it is better to sell as "the best in Japan" so that the major media in Tokyo will be able to bite better. When I asked the people involved, "Does that mean you will be the best in Japan?" they replied, "You can say that you are the best in Japan."
The rockfish familiar to reporters are the "black rockfish" that are the target fish for embankment and shore fishing, and the "red rockfish" that are caught offshore. These two types are common rockfish in Honshu. When it comes to the hagfish family, there are more than 40 species living in the waters around Japan. When it comes to "departments," it is difficult to understand because of the mixture of complexity and unexpectedness.
In the end, the "Nakadomari rockfish" was not an ordinary rockfish that went unsold at fish stores. However, outside of the sea fishing world, it is rare to see light shining on a fish that is called rockfish.
"Nakadomari rockfish" selected as a local gourmet
It was seven years ago in July 2015 that Nakadomari Town debuted "Usumebaru" as a local gourmet "Nakadomari rockfish set sashimi and stew". Before the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen in March 2016, Aomori Prefecture asked the town to develop a local gourmet in Okutsugaru.
That's why the "Nakadomari rockfish" was chosen. Until then, "Usumumebaru" had been eaten locally for more than 30 years and was shipped as a high-grade fish "Tsugaru Kaikyo rockfish" at Tsukiji Market. The regional collective trademark I mentioned earlier was also certified as a result of the accumulation of these achievements. While it is commonly eaten locally, "Usmebaru", which is also served at restaurants in Tokyo, has a story.
Sashimi and stewed rockfish set
Developed as a local gourmet, "Nakadomari rockfish set sashimi and stew" is made with one or more medium-sized rockfish, "sashimi (with head)", "stewed", "tide soup", squid sashimi, and small bowl dishes. The rice is locally produced rice "Tsugaru Roman". For dessert, "Ego Nori Mizuyokan". 1,800 yen for this content. It is a nice menu for tourists. Since its appearance in October, it has achieved a cumulative total of 100,000 meals sold and has been reported in many media outlets. news report Was.
Currently (as of December 2022), the menu is offered by four restaurants in Nakadomari Town. In November of this year, one of the participating restaurants closed. In response, the Nakadomari Rockfish Cuisine Promotion Council, which includes towns, fishery cooperatives, and chambers of commerce and industry, said on their official website, "Although the number of stores offering the service has decreased, the Nakadomari Rockfish Cuisine Promotion Council will continue to devote itself even more I'm telling you 。
I've never been to a middle stay, but I've lifted a lot of middle nights. It's about time we started without actually eating the "mid-night rockfish". However, "Nakadomari rockfish set sashimi and stewed" is a local menu that you can eat locally. Even if you feel like you're getting close to staying overnight, you can't go right now.
The next time I went to Aomori Prefecture, I ate rockfish in Nakadomari Town and thought about fishing. I learned that you can purchase gourmet food from "Nakadomari rockfish". The town's seafood distributor "Takutachi Suisan" sells not only fresh fish and stews, but also ajillo, aqua pazza, and stew. We are enthusiastic about product development. It is funny that the product name has "Meba" in it.
The reporter chose the "Nakadomari Rockfish Pickled Rice (1,200 yen)," which was developed as a back-order product of the fisherman's rice "Tenkara Bowl," which has been eaten locally for a long time. The development of this product was inspired by the mayor of Nakadomari when he went to Ehime Prefecture and ate "sea bream from Uwajima". Subsequently, in collaboration with the Kodomari Fishery Cooperative, in 2021, the Women's Department of the Fishery Cooperative developed it. The fishery cooperative says, "Please enjoy the homemade food of Hama's kacchan."
The word "tenkara" came up earlier. In fact, this is also the local name for "Usmebaru". It originated a long time ago, when fishermen were at a loss due to poor fishing, and suddenly a large number of fish began to be caught, and the scene was as if fish had fallen from the heavens. Then there is a legend that they began to call it "tenkara".
The editorial department has received "Nakadomari rockfish pickle". Inside the package is a 5-piece set of "sashimi", "seaweed", "pickled sauce", "condiments", and "dashi for pickling tea". After cutting the landed fish, the fish is frozen using ultra-high-speed freezing technology, which is about 20 times faster than normal freezing, to prevent the destruction of the cells of the meat so that the freshness and taste do not deteriorate.
The way to eat it is a bowl style with rockfish on rice. The product proposes a taste change for the first and second servings. The price is 1,200 yen per piece and 1,500 yen for cool shipping, so it's a high-class fish. The back-ordered product is " Zhuritsu Fisheries Available for purchase. It is also sold locally at fishing cooperatives, roadside stations, and tourist facilities.
Then, let's try "Nakadomari Rockfish Pickled Rice"!
The fish meat is pinkish white. There is a sizzle feeling from a glance.
The first serving, I groaned at the crunchy texture. Is it unzipped? No, it's not frozen, but it has a supple hardness and a sweet taste when you bite into it. Like a gymnast in sports? Finished in 2-3 minutes. Immediately for the second serving, the meat coated in the hot broth changed to a savory change. I see. It was scooped up and finished in 1 minute. It was really delicious. I was also able to confirm that the crunchy texture and taste are familiar ordinary rockfish.
I feel like I'm going to get a busy breakfast or a woman. In addition, there seems to be a need to make a larger size.
About the name of the rockfish
So far, several names for rockfish have appeared. I tried to choose it according to the context, but it may be blurry in places.
Here's how the name is used in the town. Fishermen call it "tenkara" because of the origin of the legend, fishermen and people involved in commerce and industry call it "Tsugaru Strait rockfish" and "Nakadomari rockfish", and citizens usually call it rockfish. It certainly seems to be. If a third party calls, it can be anything other than rockfish.
I want the "Tsugaru Strait rockfish" to play a role in improving the status of ordinary rockfish.
The "Nakadomari rockfish" that we paid attention to this time was a rockfish that was different from the black and red that reporters are familiar with. However, it was good to know that "Usmebaru", which bears the name of rockfish, is active in Nakadomari Town, Aomori Prefecture. Talk to the people involved and eat the fish. I could have made it into an article.
In 2021, the amount of "Tsugaru Strait rockfish" landed was 179 tons, and sales were 180 million. Landings, like other fish in the waters around Japan, are declining compared to before. It is not a fishing method that kills all the fish like a major seafood company. Is global warming still the cause? Even at the fishing spot, the story of the recent inability to catch fish has become a greeting.
On the other hand, "the unit price of Tsugaru Strait rockfish is improving, and sales have not fallen (Nakadomari Rockfish Cuisine Promotion Council). I think there are multiple factors, but I think brand strategy is contributing in no small part.
Based on the success of the "Tsugaru Strait rockfish", we hope that in the future, ordinary black and red rockfish, which are unsold even if they have a half-price sticker at fish shops in Tokyo, will see the light of day.
More about Nakadomari
Nakadomari Town in Aomori Prefecture is located on the west side of the Tsugaru Mountains in the central part of the Tsugaru Peninsula. The "Kodomari District" where the fish are landed is "Pon Tomari" in the Ainu language, which means "small port". The tourist spot is the "Miyakoshi House" (summer, which exhibits the works of Japan's stained glass pioneer artist "Ogawa Sanchi". ・ Limited time in the fall). The town's scenic spot "Chokandai" and the northernmost tip of Honshu "Tsugaru Nakazato Station" on the Tsugaru Railway are popular.
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For those who are interested in < fish species> Bozu Konjac and WEB Fish Encyclopedia Introducing. The former is a site that I asked a staff member of the Public Relations Office of the Fisheries Agency. It is said that it has become a dictionary for the staff. The latter is a site that I learned about through a Facebook group. If someone fishing somewhere in Japan catches an unnamed fish and posts it on the spot, even a maniac fish will get an answer within seconds to minutes. It's too maniacal and makes me laugh and laugh. |
