Mizu (Uwabamiso) Festival at Murakko Bussankan

Uwabamiso 　（Elatostema umbellatum ）is a kind of sansai (Mountain Vegetables) that is called Mizu 　（ミズ）in Akita dialect. The plant’s name literally derives from what the word means, “water,” since the plant grows in a wet soil close to streams and river banks.

Murakko Bussankan (むらっこ物産館）, a farmer’s market in Nishiki Area, has a monthly event (like this one) themed in different seasonal food. July is Mizu Festival, in which you can try different types of dishes using mizu as the main ingredient. Each dish plate will be sold for 100Yen. You can also find other delicious plates prepared by local farmers.

Ask a knowledgeable staff about sansai :D (Here she is holding Mizu)

Mizu Matsuri （ミズまつり）

Place:

Murakko Bussankan （むらっこ物産館）

in Nishiki Area, Semboku City

(TEL 0187-47-2205)

Date:

Sunday, July 17th, 2011. 11 AM – 15PM

(The Market is open from 9AM to 17PM.)

 

Festivals Scheduled For Later:

August 14th – Summer Festival

September 18th – Mushroom Festival

 October 16th – Harvest Festival

November 20th – Warm Nabe (Hot Pot) Festival

(The final event before the winter closure.)

Butterbur Sprout Festival at a Co-op Farmer's Market

Murakko Bussankan （むらっこ物産館）is a cooperative product center in Nishiki Town. After the winter closure from November till April, the store is finally open offering you many different kinds of seasonal vegetables and traditional crafts hand-made by the local villagers.

 

Murakko Bussankan

Murakko Bussankan welcomes visitors in festival on the 3rd Sundays of every month. In April, it is called “Bakkya Matsuri,” or butterbur sprout festival. Butterbur sprout is one of the wild delicacies (“sansai”) enjoyed in late April. It is called “fukinoto” in common Japanese but “bakkya” in Akita dialect. The popular ingredient is served deep-fried, croquette, and in sweetened miso sauce.

 

The store will have different kinds of dishes like mentioned above, as well as some warm meals for cheap prices. This is a perfect stop-over to taste how the authentic homey meals taste like, since it is cooked by local mothers! (More)

Butterbur sprouts are enjoyed deepfried, croquette, and sauteed in sweet miso sauce.

What is Sansai?

“Sansai” literally translates to “mountain vegetables.” They are as “wild” as they could be (yes, that means free of pesticides and fertilizers) and also delicious as it is enjoyed over many generations. Sansai could be any plants like leaves, sprouts, mushrooms, etc.

 

The sansai is collected and prepared by the local villagers, which are the specialists of sansai in this area. You do not want to go find the wild delicacies in the mountains yourself, since there are many kinds that resembles and could deceive you--- you must make sure to have only the edible ones. The preparation is another trouble: Some sansais take complicated process before they become palatable. No wonder why they are sold expensively in Tokyo area.

So here is your perfect chance! Just stop by at Murakko Bussankan to taste the seasonal sansai at the freshest and bestest time of the year!

Bakkya Matsuri at Murakko Bussankan

11a.m. to 15 p.m. Sunday, April 17th, 2011.

Murakko Bussankan

Business Open from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m.
TEL 0187-47-2205

Business Re-Opening in Spring (Part 2): Murakko Bussankan

Driving on from Tazawako Heart Herb ...

My next destination is Murakko Bussankan in Nishiki Area.

Murakko Bussankan is another store that had a celebratory event after the winter closure. They had a festival called Bakkya Matsuri, Butterbur Sprout Festival. But by the time I got there, it was already past noon. Too bad, all the prepared Bakkya dishes were gone, but instead I enjoyed talking to the staffs and the customers enjoying their lunch. I overheard a conversation between people asking one another where they were from. Some had unfamiliar accents, so I believe they were from different parts of Tohoku.

The entrance

The packages are labeled with a name and contact information of its producer. It has become a common preaution taken by many co-op style markets in Japan, but it just shows how much the providers care about the consumers. Plus, it would make you feel like cherishing it so much more when you see a familar name on the label.

The packaged Bakkya, Butterbur Sprout.

Azami (C. japonicum DC) is commonly enjoyed in local cuisine.

I found other kinds of wild delicacies too, all prepared and ready to be cooked! The prices are so  reasonable, considering all the preparations you need to take before cooking them by yourself.

Local people enjoying the lunch combinations! Help yourself with a piece of dried mochi roasted on the irori fireplace.

In Autumn, they have Saimyo-ji Chestnut instead.

Get a pack of Iburi-Gakko here! They are radishes smoked and picked by hands of local ladies.

Handwoven baskets.

This small store is so much more informative and you can take a better peek at the lives of local people. The staffs are very friendly and hospitable, so you should talk to them!

Up on the wall I found a poster of up-coming events. Special events are planned on every third Sundays.

The Event schedule of 2010:

Bakkya (Butterbur Sprout) Matsuri---April 18th

Sansai Matsuri (Wild Vegetables) Festival--- May 16th

Takenoko (Bamboo Shoots) Festival--- June

Mizu (E. Umbellatum) Festival--- July 18th

Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival)---August 14th

Kinoko Matsuri (Mushroom Festival)--- September 19th

Shukaku Kansha Sai (Thanksgiving Festival)---October 17th

Attaka Nabe Matsuri (Hot Pot Festival)--- November 21st

The back of the building still remains inches of snow. In summer, you can have a short walk here. The store is located right in front of the gate to Katamae-Yama Shinrin Koen (Katamae-Yama Forest Park). You can strech your walk to the park, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the lake. The park is also a popular camp grounds with cottages and bungalows. If you are camping there, this is the closest grocery store. The business is open 9:00-17:00.