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.)

Obonai Takenoko are Now in Season! Enjoy at Their Best!

Bamboo Shoots, Takenoko　(タケノコ、筍), are common ingredients in many Asian cuisines. Typically, Takenoko refers to large shoots (or sprouts) of Moso Bamboo. As seen in the picture below, common Takenoko are large in size; they are cut in thin stripes and boiled to get rid of the acrid taste before cooking or available in stores as dried or canned ingredients.

 

Sansai available from the spring to early summer in Japan.

 (Source/ The Japan Times)

Nemagaridake is much thinner, compared to the common type.

However, another variation of bamboo shoots, Nemagaridake (Sasa kurilensis) is common in northern Japan. They are also refered to as Chishima-zasa, whose name vary in regions.

Their most unique characteristics is, compared to that of Moso Bamboo, they are smaller and thinner in size, tender, and flavorful. They are easily prepared, because it does not have the acrid, bitter taste. You can even simply boil them and enjoy with your favorite dip.

 

Bamboo Shoots in Obonai Area:

Nemagaridake is said to grow naturally in the mountains whose soil is abundant of broad-leaf trees because it provides a suitable condition in terms of softness and humidity. Obonai Area, at the foot of Akita Komagatake, has that! No wonder this area is known for the rich Sansai harvest, especially, the delicious Bamboo Shoots!

The Obonai Takenoko （生保内たけのこ） is so sweet and tender. The thickness is about the size of an adult’s thumb. They are cooked by simply boiled and served with your favorite sauce (mayonnaise, soy, salt, spicy sauce, etc.), or cooked in Miso soup, stir-fried, steamed, and deep-fried (Tempura).

(From Left) Fresh Bamboo Shoots, Peeling Machine, Stir-fried, Tempura-ed.

 

The Sansai harvesting is seasonal; the local people are now very busy going to the mountains to find the delicious food. At home some people even own a peeling machine (photo) to make the peeling process faster! They can it and sell it at the markets.

In this season, the Bamboo Shoots are enjoyed freshly every day! Obonai Bamboo Shoots Festival in Semboku City are now being held until the end of this month. You can enjoy a wide variety of recipes using these bamboo shoots at local restaurants!

Picking Mountain Vegetables on World Challenge Day

On May 25th, the World Challenge Day, we have challenged to fulfill the quota of 15-minutes exercise by picking Sansai, Mountain Vegetables!

Our destination was Daikakuno Farm （大覚野牧場） in Nishiki Area.

Daikakuno Farm （大覚野牧場）is located in Nishiki Area, from where you can have a splendid view of Akita Komagatake and Mt. Moriyoshi. The pasture land is over 170 hectare on a plateau of about 520 meters (1706 ft.) high. The rolling crops and grassland (some people say) reminds you of the scenery in Northern Europe! There are a few ponds in which small shrimps inhabit as well as a swamp called Tatechinuma, which is said to be where giant carps can be caught.

The cows are out in early June.

Daikakuno Farm is about 1 hour away drive from our office near JR Tazawako Station. You take Route 105 northbound to Kita-Akita City. Along the road, you will see railroads and no-man Stations of Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway. You also will drive seeing the mountains, rice paddies, and beautiful rivers. You will pass Kamifusen-kan, an event site for the Giant Paper Balloon Festival of Nishiki Area. The gravel road that leads you to the farm appears on your left.

We took the roads to drive further into the mountain  in search of some good Sansai !!!

Funny, although we did not expect to see many people in middle of the week, we did see many cars with full loads of Sansai! We laughed in the car how we couldn’t help feeling competitive with others!

Here are some findings on this day:

Taranome (left top/ center right), Zenmai ferns (left bottom),

Koshiabura (center bottom), and Warabi ferns (right bottom)

Obviously, 15 minutes was not enough to find many Sansai but we did accomplish our 15-minutes quota! Also, we were incredibly refreshed by the breeze in the young leaves!

... Now back in the office!

World Challenge Day is Tomorrow! What Will You Do?

TIFISA World Challenge Day is an international competition day of sports and physical activities, in which communities around the world take a part to compete against one another. It aims to raise the awareness and motivate the people to be more actively engaged in physical activities starting from only 15 minutes a day.

The event originally started in Canada in 1983 and more than 600 communities participated and continued the event for 11 years. As a result, it is reported that the number of people who involve in physical activity more than 2 times a day has jumped from 5 to 35%. Japanese communities have been involved in this event since 1993. Today 103 municipal communities around Japan have been involved in this event.

Every year on the last Wednesday of May from noon to 9 p.m., participants get involved in physical activity for at least 15 minutes. Any types of physical activities are included; not only team sports (e.g. baseball) but also physical engagements in farming and construction can be counted. Later, the proportion of participants in each community is calculated and competed with another.

This is the first year that Semboku City has sign up for this event. Tomorrow, May 25th, there will be an opening ceremony in Kakunodate area, welcoming a well-known Akita-born swimmer, Hiroko Nagasaki. (She is known for her remarkable achievement as the youngest Olympian at the age of 12 as well as her continuous success in both Los Angeles and Seoul Olympic Games).

What Will We Challenge?

Staffs at Tazawako Tourism Association (that is We) are challenging Sansai-tori, Mountain Vegetables Picking! Who said that can’t be a physical activity? It will require a great deal of physical endurance: squatting, picking, throwing in the basket, and carrying the abundant findings! OH MY!

…We have been extremely excited!

We will find them!



  

  The official T-shirt.

     

Kimoto: A Delicatessen of Japanese Home Style Cooking

Many people love visiting Tazawako Area and have a picnic at the lake! If you are on your way from Kakunodate area to Lake Tazawa,  grab a bite at  Kimoto!

Kimoto is a Japanese style delicatessen that sells ready-to-eat side dishes (okazu) by the portion as well as in a Bento Boxes to go. It is managed by women over 3 generations – a grandmother, mother, and daughter!

Meat, Okazu, and Bento Boxes:

Originally started as a meat shop, today Kimoto sells home style dishes (okazu) with high quality ingredients such as meat, organic rice (Hitomebore brand) and home-grown vegetables. You can have eat-in or to-go in a Bento Box for your picnic trip!

 

             

(From Left to Right)

BIG Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet)

Karaage (Fried Chicken)

Spinach Seasoned with Sesami Dressing

Apple Pie

Maki-zushi (Sushi Roll)

Sansai-no-miryoku Otanoshimi Gozen

（山菜の味覚お楽しみ御膳）

Kimoto sells many different kinds of Bento Boxes. This Sansai Special Bento is special because it is available only in this season! (Until the end of June.) You will taste many different Sansai vegetables in this satisfying lunch box – Butterbur sprout, Udo (Japanese Spikenard), Taranome (Shoots of Japanese Angelica-tree), Kogomi (young sprouts of a type of fern), Warabi (Bracken Fern), etc. It is served with Gohan (steamed white rice) and other seasonal ingredients as well.

The Sansai Bento Box is available for 1,200 – 1,800 yen. You can order as many as 30. To assure the availability of ingredients, please place your order 10 days before the day. Reservation can be made through Semboku City Tourism Information Center (T.I.C.) at JR Kakunodate Station.

Kimoto

Closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday

TEL/FAX : 0187-47-2948

Learn about "Our Delicious Things: Flavors of Tazawako"

SANSAI IS SO DELICIOUS!!!

We can't stress enough how great the Mountain Vegetables are! Now they are at its best in this time of year! You will find: Aiko, Taranome, Udo, Azami, Udo, Kogomi, Warabi, Takenoko... Oh yum! The list continues.

If you want to know more about the wild delicacies especially  found in Tazawako Area. Here is a perfect book for you!

"Shin Oraho-no-Umemono: Flavor of Tazawako"

(Only 400Yen)

Published By Hina-no-kai （ひなの会）in 1999

A little glimpse...

This book  introduces you almost 20 different Sansai found in Tazawako Area with description of the characteristics and preparation for cooking. It also introduces 20 plus recipes of local traditional dishes like Budo-zuke (daikon radish pickled in glory vine), Yubeshi, Oyaki, Yamanoimonabe, sushi, mochi, etc.

The book is a second edition of the original, with more improved recipes and contents! The content was summarized and publishd by local women group. For the price of only 400 yen, you can learn a lot about our rich local food culture. It is a must book for those who want to get the best cultural flavor when visiting a rural Japan. Find a copy at Folake Tourist Information Center at JR Tazawako Station.

Although available only in Japanese (FYI, not in Akita dialect), the book is surely informative!!!!!

Highly recommended :)

The Passion (Obsession?) in the Search of Sansai, Mountain Vegetables

Have you seen a car parked on the roadside in the middle of nowhere but mountains?

What are they doing? - They are in search of Sansai in the mountain!

What is “Sansai”?

”Sansai” literally means “Mountain Vegetables,” which are wild plants traditionally enjoyed all over Japan. Since they grow in the nature and are hard to cultivate, they are manually collected by local people. The Sansai is the best ingredient in this season!

(From the right top clockwise)

Taranome, Koshiabura, Tempura of Taranome, and Aiko!

The Search Continues:

The search for Sansai harvest becomes so obsessive and even competitive! We hear: “A husband never comes home with poor findings; he’d rather come home empty-handed and pretend he never even went!”

People become so absorbed in the search. They lose the sense of time and direction – some people even end up being searched by a rescue squad instead! (Or bump into a bear or two.)

So, now you know: Never go into the mountain with any guide or knowledgeable local person. The search is not easy. You need the right knowledge and experience to find the right ones!

You can also refer to books like "Shin Oraho-no-Umemono Tazawako-no-Aji" (New "Our Delicious Things: Flavors of Tazawako") You can find a copy at Folake Tazawako Tourist Information Center at JR Tazawako Station.

Where to Taste the Seasonal Sansai:

Thanks to the experienced people, we get to taste different kinds of Sansai on our plate!

If you visit any local restaurants (like Soba Goro, Kimoto) or stay at local inns, you will probably able to taste some kinds! Or you might see some Sansai events like Murakko Bussankan’s Bakkya Festival and as a topping of Stone Oven Pizza at Tazawako Campground!

Sansai is probably the most special thing you could taste on your travel – they are seasonal and regional!

YUMMY!!  ENJOY!