While more and more people enjoy camping in this Corona disaster, in Yamagata Prefecture in Tohoku, there is a long-standing custom of “outdoor meals” in the style of a “taro stew party. In spring, people enjoy stewed potatoes while viewing cherry blossoms, in summer they enjoy stewed potatoes with BBQ, and in autumn and winter, when root vegetables are at their most delicious, there are many taro stew competitions throughout the prefecture. If you visit Zao Onsen for skiing or tree ice viewing in the coming season, we recommend warming yourself up with imoni. We would like to introduce two souvenirs from Yamagata, a prefecture with such natural experiences and unique people.
Usami Senbei “Karakara Senbei
Karakara senbei is a local confectionery that has been handed down in the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture since the Edo period. Inside the triangular rice cracker is a small folk art toy. There are a variety of toys such as a ball, a mallet, a pinwheel, a paper crane, and Tendo City’s famous Shogi (Japanese chess) pieces.
Maruyama Karakara Senbei,” made by Usami Senbei, established in 1949, is characterized by its rich flavor and firm richness, using a lot of special brown sugar from Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture. The name “Maruyama” in the product name is said to have come from the old days when freshly baked round rice crackers were folded from three sides before hardening to form a mountain-like shape.
The taste has been passed down for many years without using any coloring or flavoring, with the aim of “passing on the unchanged Japanese traditions to future generations.” The excitement of seeing each toy individually hand-packaged will bring children and adults alike back to their childhood.
© Source travel watch