Sep 25, 20214 minJapan’s School Lunch Program: Born in TsuruokaThe provision of school lunches (gakko kyushoku), at public schools throughout Japan is believed to have originated in Tsuruoka around 1889,
Sep 4, 20213 minTsuruoka Food PreservationIn 2014, Tsuruoka was designated the first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in Japan.
Aug 14, 20215 minTsuruoka NihonshuThe success of the concept of brewing for quality was brought to light when, in 2004, Yamagata won more gold medals than any other prefectur
Jul 24, 20212 minKitamaebune and HinagashiHinagashi (sweets to offer at the Dolls’ Festival) are typically made to reflect the specialties of the region. They include ingredients tho
Jun 18, 20213 minKurokawa Noh and Food CultureNoh drama is one of the oldest major forms of theater art performed today and Kurokawa Noh is the local tradition that has been preserved fo
Mar 21, 20196 minAtsumi Turnips – HitokasumiWhen talking about the pickles made in Tsuruoka, we cannot go without mentioning Atsumi turnips, which have nice crunchiness and a ...
Mar 21, 20196 minYakihata Turnips – Yamagata UniversitySlash and burn farming is known as yakihata (literally, “burning down the field”) agriculture in Japanese.Turnips grown through yakihata...
Mar 21, 20195 minFeast of Kurokawa NohShimi-dofu (freeze-dried tofu), essential to Ogisai (a festival during which the Kurokawa Noh is performed) The Kurokawa area boasts the...
Mar 21, 20195 min“Haguro Men-yo,” MuttonMr. Kohei Maruyama, a sheep rancher in the Haguro area When it comes to meat, most people might first think of beef, pork or chicken....