Tokyo

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Tokyo

Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō), officially Tokyo Metropolis (東京都, Tōkyō-to), is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the city of Tokyo in the eastern part of the prefecture, and total over 8 million people. The population of the prefecture exceeds 12 million.

Tokyo is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Tokyo was originally a small fishing village named Edo. In 1457, Ōta Dōkan (Ota Dokan) built Edo Castle. In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo his base and when he became shogun in 1603, the town became the center of his nationwide military government.
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
Also within the administrative boundaries of Tokyo Metropolis are two island chains in the Pacific Ocean directly south: the Izu Islands, and the Ogasawara Islands, which stretch more than 1,000 km away from mainland Japan.
There are several national parks within Tokyo.
Tokyo is an example of an urban heat island.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange is Japan's largest stock exchange, and second largest in the world.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



Daruma Museum
Edo, The City That Became Tokyo 　江戸



. 100 Favorite Dishes of Edo
江戸料理百選 　


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Food Sake Tokyo
(The Terroir Guides) by Yukari Sakamoto



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ashitaba 明日葉（あしたば）"grows back tomorrow"
Angelica keiskei
The plant like a celery is so strong that it all grows back by the next day in the volcanic soil of the island of Hachijojima. Medical properties of cleaning the blood and the colon and others have been known since the Edo period. It was used by the army as a secret weapon against tiredness and minor illnesses on the road. It is a yin-tonicum.
Eaten as tempura (fried in camellia oil from the island), in stir-fried dishes or in miso soup.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

ashitaba icecream


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Edomaezushi Edomae Sushi
江戸前寿司 / 江戸前 すし / 江戸前鮨
Sushi with fresh fish from the Tokyo Bay
started in the Edo period as a cheap food in the yatai shops.
They all have a kanpyo maki, which many gourmets eat as the last bite.
The name is almost identical in Edo with "nori maki", wrapped in nori seaweed.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Sukeroku sushi 助六寿司
Sukeroku is the name of a hero of the Edo period and famous Kabuki play. His beloved was the courtesan "Agemaki", so this sushi contains a some agesushi (inari sushi) and some makisushi.
one of them always kampyo maki, with dried gourd shavings.


. Sushi Sushi Sushi 　


. Sukeroku 助六 - Hero of Edo .

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gyuunyuu senbei 牛乳せんべい milk cookies
made without any water, on a maschine that rotates.
from Miyakejima 三宅島



kusaya くさや "smelly fish"
from Miyakejima and other islands
Sardines are marinated in a sauce with salt that has a history since the Edo period, when farmers could not pay taxes with rice, but with this fish.
After the volcano exploded more than 10 years ago, the sauce had not been used. In 2997, when the maker was allowed to come back to Miyake Island, some producers from another island lend him the first 100 liters of sauce to prepare a new type for himeslf now. He cuts about 400 fish each day and puts them in the sauce, which he licks to see if it needs more salt each day.



shimazushi しまずし/ 島寿司 Sushi from the Islands
Made from fish caught near the islands, such as Japanese mackerel (shima-aji), amberjack (kanpachi 間八, and flying fish (tobiuo).
Since the weather in these islands is warmer, fish meat is marinated in soysauce and the rice for sushi is flavored a bit stronger and sweeter. Since there grows no Japanese horseradish (wasabi) on the islands, this sushi is usually served with mustard (karashi) or hot pepper.
Speciality of Hachijojima Island.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Edo Yasai 江戸伝統野菜 Traditional vegetables of Edo
Kameido daikon, Nerima daikon, and many more
Tokyo X buta 東京X豚 Tokyo X pork from special pigs


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soups from the islands

akaba-jiru あかば汁 soup with a roughly-chopped red fish called akaba

dango-jiru だんご汁 soup with fish balls of tobiuo or flying fish
Hachijojima 八丈島

enbaijiru えんばい汁 soup wiht fish sauce from muroaji mackerels
Izu Oshima Island

onji-jiru おんじ汁　 soup with crab meat
Shikinejima Island

tataki-jiru たたき汁 soup with seasoned fish cake
Niijima Island 新島
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



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. Bettarazuke べったら漬 Bettara pickles from radish


chankonabe ちゃんこ鍋 hodgepodge for sumo wrestlers


dojoonabe どじょうなべ / どじょう鍋 pot with loach
Loach cooked in a shallow earthen pot with a plenty of chopped green onions. Different types of soup are used to cook this, for example such as sweet, soysauce-based sauce called warishita 割り下 or miso-based soup. There are two serving types of dojo-nabe:
Maru contains whole loaches including their heads and bones.
Saki uses ones without heads and bones.
They are served with seven spices (shichimi-togarashi and Japanese pepper (sanshoo).
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Schmerleneintopf



Fukagawameshi ふかがわめし/ 深川 Rice from Fukagawa
Fukagawa-don, a bowl of rice topped with a miso-based stew of clams (asari) and green onions. During the Edo period, asari (clam) gathering was very popular in the Fukagawa area near the mouth of the Sumida River (part of present Koto Town).
It originally was like a fast food eaten by busy fishermen during the fishing. Fukagawa-meshi, on the other hand, is rice cooked together with the asari clams. . . . CLICK here for Photos !


Fukagawa udon 深川うどん Udon noodles made in Fukagawa
They are stretched like somen nodles with a handmade maschine.
kitchin jiroo キッチンジロー Kitchen Jiro restaurant, the owner is Jiro, who makes the noodles. He has also invented a maschine to peel onions for his many restaurants.
CLICK here for PHOTOS of Kitchen Jiro !




gyuunyuu seihin 牛乳製品 milk products
Large islands such as Oshima, Hachijojima of the Izu Island Chain have a dairy farm and are producing fresh milk items such as milk and butter. They also make ice cream with local products, such as tropical fruits, ashitaba and so on.



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kusaya くさや "smelly fish"
Kusaya isd ried fish that is prepared in the islands Niijima and Hachijojima and in Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands. It is made by soaking fish in fish sauce before drying it, which as a result creates a particular smell that can be liked or disliked by an individual. Since kusaya causes even stronger small when it is grilled, packages of already-grilled kusaya are also sold.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
"Stinkender" getrockneter Fisch


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monjayaki もんじゃやき savory pankakes, Tokyo style
similar to Okonomiyaki from Osaka
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



toropikaru furuutsu トロピカルフルーツ tropical fruits
From the Ogasawara islands. 小笠原
Bananas, papayas and oranges, melon, mango.
Even coffee plants 小笠原産のコーヒー grow on the islands.
. . . CLICK here for Coffee plant Photos !




Tsubaki abura 椿油) camellia oil
from Izu Ooshima Island 伊豆大島




tsukudani つくだに (佃煮) Simmering in sweetened soy sauce



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unagi boon 　鰻ボーン bones of eel
a crisp snack of grilled bones
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Aalknochen



waraji katsudon わらじかつどん
pork cutlet "like straw sandals"
Two large pork cutlets fried and flavored with soy sauce are placed on a large portion of rice. It was first made for the hardworking day laborous in the Chichibu mountains.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




yanagawanabe 柳川鍋, やながわ鍋 hodgepodge
With loach and thinly-sliced goboo burdock. in the end an egg is dropped on the pot.
Mitsuba is added for green. First invented at the restaurant called "Yanagawa", in Fukuoka prefecture.


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External LINKS


【Local Specialties】
Kaminari-okoshi
Ningyo-yaki

Fukujin-zuke
Bettara-zuke and Tokyo Takuan-zuke
Edo Amamiso
Wasabi
Fish from river and harvest from mountains
Umeboshi
Konnyaku

source : www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU



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Related words

***** . 100 Favorite Dishes of Edo
江戸料理百選


Fujisan, the Protector of Edo in the North
. WASHOKU
Fujisan Specialities 富士山 　


***** WASHOKU : Regional Japanese Dishes

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Saga prefecture

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. Saga district, Tokyo .
- see below - Sagacho 佐賀町
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Saga Prefecture



Saga Prefecture (佐賀県, Saga-ken)
is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. It touches both the Sea of Japan and the Tsushima current 対馬海流 and the Ariakekai Sea　有明海. The western part of the prefecture is a region famous for producing ceramics and porcelain, particularly the towns of
Karatsu　唐津, Imari　伊万里, and Arita　有田.
The capital is the city of Saga.
Kyūshū's smallest prefecture, Saga, is located on the northwest corner of the island, bordered by the Genkai Sea and the Tsushima Strait to the north and the Ariake Sea to the south.

In ancient times the area composed by Nagasaki Prefecture and Saga Prefecture was called Hizen Province. The current name dates from the Meiji Restoration. Rice farming culture has prospered here since ancient times, and vestiges can be seen at the ruins of Nabatake in Karatsu and the Yoshinogari site in Yoshinogari.

From the Kamakura period to the Muromachi period it is thought that over 100 feudal clans existed. Also exerting great influence during this time was a samurai clan operating along the Genkai Sea called the Matsuratō. Upon entering the Sengoku period, the Ryūzōji clan expanded their control to include all of Hizen and Chikugo Provinces, and part of Higo and Chikuzen Provinces. After the death of daimyo Takanobu Ryūzōji, Naoshige Nabeshima 　鍋島　 took control of the political situation, and by 1607 all of the Ryūzōji clan's domain was under the control of the Nabeshima clan.

Around the middle of the 19th century, Naomasa Nabeshima strove to set right the domain's financial affairs, reduce the number of government officials, and encourage local industry such as Arita porcelain, green tea, and coal.

Agriculture, forestry, and coastal fisheries form a large portion of the prefectural economy. Regional agricultural specialties include Saga beef, onions, and strawberries.
The prefecture is the largest producer of mochigome (sticky rice) and
greenhouse mandarin oranges in Japan.
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The Ariake Sea (有明海, Ariake-kai)
is a body of salt water surrounded by Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto Prefectures, all of which lie on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It is the largest bay in Kyūshū. Its deepest point is only about 50 m deep, and extreme tides exceed 6 m. It is used for aquaculture, with nori being a major product. Various species of fauna including mudskipper (mutsugoro), Pen shell (Atrina pectinata), and fiddler crab live in the Ariake Sea. In autumn, there will be red-grass along the sea shore. Recent years have brought increasing pollution, with resultant red tide. Isahaya Bay is a branch of the Ariake Sea.
Across the Amakusa Islands lies the Yatsushiro Sea.

Many harbors are located on the coast. Among them are Misumi (in the city of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture), Shimabara (Shimabara, Nagasaki), Taira (Unzen, Nagasaki), Nagasu (Kumamoto), Kumamoto (Kumamoto) , Miike (Omuta, Fukuoka), Kuchinotsu (Minamishimabara, Nagasaki), and Oniike (Amakusa, Kumamoto).
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Ariake ryoori 有明料理
Cuisine of products from the Ariake-kai sea
The Ariake sea and flatlands are rich in nutritients and rivers carry more nutritients from the mountains to the sea. The mix of fresh water and sea water is good for many kinds of seafood. The tide changes the sea level about 6 meters.
This food is served often in the town of Saga.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


. nama kurage 生クラゲ raw jelly fish
eaten with grated ginger and soy sauce
akakurage, aka kurage 赤水母（あかくらげ）red jellyfish
Chrysaora melanaster


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Regional Dishes from Saga 佐賀の郷土料理
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


agoyaki あご焼（トビウオ) / yaki ago 焼あご fried flying fish


aisu puranto アイスプラント "ice plant" , sea fig, chrystal leaf
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
Carpobrotus chilensis
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
It was originally planted to keep the sand on the beaches of Saga prefecture and other parts of Japan. It has white spots like salt on its leaves.
It is now promoted for eating, called
barafu バラフ Barafu.
salty vegetable 塩味野菜
Saga University's Department of Agriculture, Prof. Ogawa Takahiro is promoting it as edible since 2006. Fa. Nokendo (Nookendoo 農研堂（のうけんどう）.
Made into Barafu ice cream and other sweets like roll cake or short cake.
http://www.barafu.jp/sweets.html . . . with photos
Or fried with other ingredients or used in salads.


burakku monburan ブラックモンブラン "black Montblanc"
ice cream with chocolate cover
when you finish eating, you might win something, written on the stick. Invented by 竹下小太郎, when he saw the Monblanc in Swizzerland and thought it might be more delicious with a chocolate cover.



dabu だぶ food for communal festivities
kyoodoshoku 郷土食. Also prepared when entertaining important visitors.
Regionally called 「ざぶ zabu 」「さぶ sabu」「らぶ rabu」
With boiled root vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, konnyaku (mostly frozen konnyaku), fu wheat gluten crutons etc. and always the lotos roots from Ariakekai. Kombu and chicken for the broth and kamaboko for more filling. Thickened with a bit of katakuri starch. Juice from squeezed fresh ginger adds some flavor and keeps the body warm in winter.
When eating the broth, it makes the sound SABU SABU when old people eat it, hence the naming.
Prepared for all the villagers.
On happy occasions, the food is cut into small squares and flavored without sugar. An even number of ingredients is used. Salt and soy sacue are usef for flavoring.
On sad occasions like funerals and memorial services (うれいの時), it is cut in triangular form and sugar is used to enliven the palate. Instead of chicken atsuage tofu is used.
It is served in a large bowl and each person can take as much as he likes into his own personal "dabu bowl" だぶ椀.
Famous isKaratsu, Hamasaki village. 唐津市浜崎地区
When prepared only for the family, it is inaka dabu 田舎だぶ, when prepared for guests, it is okyakusama dabu お客様だぶ.
This is also prepared in villages of Fukuoka in Northern Kyushu.


dagojiru だご汁 miso soup with dumplings
Famous at the hot spring Takeo onsen 武雄温泉, in the sprit of samurai simplicity and fortitude (shitsujitsu gooken しつじつごうけん【質実剛健】)
Dumplings from wheat flour are made from hand, called tsunkiridango つんきりだご, others elongated like udon are nobedango のべだご.


ganzuke がん漬け / 蟹漬 kani crab pickles
made from local fiddler crab シオマネキ shiomaneki
a kind of shiokara salt pickles
From Ariakekai
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


gyorokke 魚ロッケ/ ぎょろっけ fried mashed fish and vegetables
from 唐津市
mashed fish (surimi) eggs, carrots are mixed, covered with breadcrumbs and fried. It is formed like a fish in shape, but basically a croquette コロッケ.
Since the early Showa years at the Fujikawa Kamaboko 藤川蒲鉾本店 shop. It had also been called haikara ten ハイカラ天 highclass tempura, karee ten カレー天 curry tempura or panko ten 「パン粉天 bread crumbs tempura. Now there are two flavors, with curry or just salt.



Hizen chagayu 肥前茶粥 rice porridge from Hizen
Prepared in an earthen pot. Green tea is put in a bag and boiled with the rice.


Kanzaki soomen 神埼そうめん(神崎素麺) somen noodles from Kanzaki
They are prepared with the fresh water from rivers from the mountain area of Sefuri 脊振. They are quite chewy, but smooth. You can enjoy them cold in summer and hot in winter.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



kuri okowa 栗おこわ mochigome rice with sweet chestnuts
A necessary meal for chrysanthemum festivities on the ninth of september, the double 9 day, in the local dialect called Okunchi おくんち【御九日】 . In Arita, this is celebrated on the 9th of October


marubooro 佐賀まるぼうろ sweet round cookies
The most important sweet of the area, introduced by the "Western barbarians" from Holland to Nagasaki, more than 300 years ago. Now these cakes are made with honey and eggs and baking powser to make them softer.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Matsuura zuke, Matsuurazuke 松浦漬け
whale pickles from Matsuura
The cartilage of the lower jaw of a whale (kaburabone かぶら骨) is watered for a long time, until all the fat is gone and then pickled in sweetened rice bran. This delicacy is counted as one of the five best in Japan 日本珍味五種.

It is sold in cans or containers from Arita porcellain that look like water goblins (kappa 河童)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


mutsugoroo むつごろう 　/ むつ五郎 haze-type mudskipper of the wetlands
This animal is prepared as food in various ways.
mutsugoro no kabayaki むつごろう蒲焼 grilled on charcoal
Eaten from May to September.
Also as sashimi or simmered in sweetened soy sauce.


niimoji にいもじ sweet potatoes in vinegar dressing
mizuimo, mizu imo みずいも【水芋】, a kind of satsumaimo.
Best in summer to induce an appetite. Sometimes called "zuiki", when it is dried.
(See also KUMAMOTO for zuiki.)


nori 佐賀のり / 佐賀海苔 Saga Nori Laver. seaweed
from the Ariakekai Sea, which is rich in nutritients and rivers carry more nutritients from the mountains to the sea. The mix of fresh water and sea water is good for growing these nori. Since the tide changes the sea level about 6 meters, they also absorb a lot of sunight to give them extra sweetness.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
..... yakinori aisu 焼きのりアイス icecream with roasted nori flavor
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




Ogi koi 小城　鯉 carp from Ogi town
Near the Falls of Kiyomizu are many restaurants to serve them as sashimi or in miso soup, since the meat does not have a raw taste to it.
The fish grow in the clear rivers of the Tenzan mountains nearby.
. . . CLICK here for Photos of the waterfall and fish dishes!


Ogi yookan 小城羊羹 (おぎようかん）bean jelly from Ogi
also called sakura yookan. Some green powdered tea is added to the mix of sweet bean paste and kanten jelly.
Even the warlord and later regend of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is said to have liked this.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Sagagyuu 佐賀牛 beef from Saga
One of the best in Japan. Cattle grazes in the mild climate of the area, with plenty of fresh water and clean air. It has a sweet taste.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


sazae さざえ【栄螺】 turban shells
Best grilled, near Cape Hado. They taste slightly salty and of the soy sauce grilled with them. 波戸岬サザエ
from Chinzei town, Karatsu
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


shishirian raisu シシリアンライス Sicilian rice
served on a plate, decorated with mayonnaise, eaten with chopsticks
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


shooro manjuu 松露饅頭 (しょうろうまんじゅう) round Manju cakes
"like shoro mushrooms (truffles) that grow on the trees of Niji na Matsubara 虹の松原 in spring and autumn". The cakes are filled with sweet bean paste, outside is castella cake. They are about 3 to 4 cm in diameter.
Speciality of Karatsu 唐津市.
shooroo ショウロ Rhizopogon rubescens
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Suko sushi 須古寿司 from Suko town
Suko Town, Kishima island 杵島（きしま）郡白石（しろいし）
The area is famous for its rice planting, since more than 500 years Sushi is made. Especially mutsugoro and other seafood from Ariakekai are used. Also shiitake mushrooms, eggs, goboo, Narazuke pickles, red pickled ginger and mountain vegetables are used to bring sea and mountain on one box sushi (oshi sushi). It is thus very colorful and often also made for festivities. The villagers make it in memory of a former daimyo, who helped them inprove the rice plants of the area.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Takesaki kani, Takezakigani 竹崎蟹 crab from Takesaki town
aogani アオガニ "blue crab" Callinectes sapidus
They are as large as 30 cm. Females are better in winter, the males in summer.
They are boiled in seawater 茹で竹崎蟹 to enjoy their natural taste.
koorazake, koora sake 甲羅酒 hot ricewine in the crab shell
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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toofu 豆腐 bean curd
Saga is famous for its various bean curds.

. . . . . godoofu ごどうふ tofu made with kuzu vines
It is like a pudding with a shining surface and taste of rice.
from Arita 有田名物, often served in a beautiful pot of Arita pottery.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


. . . . . ishiwaridoofu - ishiwari toofu 石割豆腐 ishiwaridofu, ishiwari-dofu "tofu that can split a stone"
"stone breaking tofu"
from Kashiwajima island 神集島, near Karatsu
It is very hard and quite salty. The amount of eight normal portions of tofu are used for one serving.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi brought this preparation back from his war excursion to the Korean peninsula in the 16th century and is alive to our day.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




. . . . . zarudoofu ザル豆腐 / ざる豆腐 tofu in a bamboo basket
This tofu is made without soaking the beans in water, so it has the natural flavor of the soy beans.
from Karatsu 唐津

see also below, Ureshino Onsen Tofu

. Saga Tofu from Kyoto　嵯峨豆腐


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Ureshino cha うれしのお茶 / 嬉野茶 tea from Ureshino
Green tea and black tea are produced, since it was introduced by the Ming-Chinese in 1504. The original tea is roasted in a metal container or kettle.
Some say this was the origin of tea production in Japan.
Also used to flavor soft ice and other regional sweets.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Ureshino Onsen Tofu　嬉野温泉豆腐 tofu with hot spring water
Onsen water is used to make this delightful local dish. The alkaline in the water makes the bean curd in the tofu soft and mellow when it is heated in ceramic pots. Onsen tofu is traditionally served with condiments such as green onion, ginger, and sesame paste to taste.
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warasubo 藁素坊 (ワラスボ) green eel goby
Taenioides rubicundus
ワラスボ（藁苞）
Odontamblyopus lacepedii
from Ariakekai. sometimes also called subo スボ、jinkichi ジンキチ or even mutsugoroo ムツゴロウ.
His strange outlook with sharp teeth made him a model for ALIEN.
His flesh is rather tasty. Raw as sashimi, or boiled or grilled with miso. Also dried. A good friend for the sake drinker.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Yobuko ika よぶこイカ / 呼子（よぶこ）squid from Yobuko town
near Karatsu town. The squid is almost transparent when served fresh as sashimi. Other parts are eaten as tempura.
The port of Yobuko is famous for its rich fish grounds nearby and fresh fish.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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Yoshinogari 吉野ケ里
In Memory of Queen Himiko


Yagura manjuu やぐらまんじゅう Yagura manju
Himiko manjuu 卑弥呼まんじゅうや / 卑弥呼饅頭 Himiko manju
Himiko senbei 卑弥呼せんべい / 卑弥呼煎餅 Himiko sembei


akamai aisu 赤米アイス red rice icecream
Yoshino gaarikku 吉野ガーリック giant garlic from Yoshino
Yoshinogari kodaimen 吉野ヶ里古代麺 noodles the old style
Yoshinogari saburee 吉野ヶ里 サブレー Sablee from Yoshinogari

. WASHOKU : 吉野ケ里名物
Specialities near Yoshinogari, Saga 　

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yudedago, yude dago ゆでだご simple wheat cakes
dough from wheat is formed into small round plates by hand and cooked in water. Then brown sugar is coated around it. Sometimes yomogi mugword or red beans are mixed into the dough.
Eaten as a snack by the farmers.


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

Delicacies from Saga
- source : www.asobo-saga.jp/lang/english

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HAIKU and SENRYU

aki no tabi Ariakekai no umi no sachi

travelling in autumn -
the good seafood from
Ariakekai sea

Nakayama Hanako, October 2004


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むつ五郎むつ十郎の泥試合
mutsugoroo mutsujuuroo no doro shiai

mudskipper five
and mudskipper ten
fight in the mud

Mutsugoro
und Mutsujuro
machen eine Schlammschlacht

Awano Seiho 阿波野青畝 (1899 - 1992

This is a play of words with the name of Mutsugoro. Five and ten, a small one and a big one are fighting for a female.

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仏滅の晴天を呼ぶむつ五郎
butsumetsu no seiten o yobu mutsugoroo

bringing fine weather
for Buddha's death day -
Mutsugoro

Nagajima Tenseki 永島転石

(butsumetsu is also an unlucky day in the traditional yearly almanacs.)


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Related words

Mutsugoro むつ五郎 a type of haze, mudskipper, kigo for late spring

***** WASHOKU : Regional Japanese Dishes


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. Tokyo Kōtō 江東区 Koto ward, "East River" .
Sagacho 佐賀町 . 佐賀一丁目,佐賀二丁目 Saga district, first and second district



In 1692, it was named after the village headmen, 藤左衛門町 Tozaemoncho and 次兵衛町 Jiheicho.
In 1695, it was named after the Saga prefecture, because the harbour of 肥前国佐賀湊 Saga looked similar to the area in Edo.
Near the 深川地域 Fukagawa area, former 深川佐賀町 Fukagawa Sagacho.
In 1878, it became part of 深川区 Fukagawa ward.
In 1947, Fukagawa became part of Koto ward.

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- #sagaprefecture #saga -
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Hamaguri clam

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. Famous Places of Edo .
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Clamshell (hamaguri)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: All spring
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

clamshell, hard clam, hamaguri 蛤 (はまぐり)
Meretrix lusoria. Venus clam, clam shell
Common orient clam

hodgepodge with clamshells, hamaguri nabe 蛤鍋（はまなべ）
steamed hamaguri, mushi hamaguri 蒸蛤（むしはまぐり）
hamaguri broth, hamatsuyu 蛤つゆ（はまつゆ）
grilled hamaguri, yaki hamaguri 焼蛤（やきはまぐり）
suhamaguri 洲蛤（すはまぐり）
hamaguri with vinegar, su hamaguri 酢蛤（すはまぐり）





Heat shimmers (kageroo), also called
"shell tower" kai yagura 貝櫓, kairoo 貝楼
People of old believed that a clam shell (hamaguri) would cough up air and produce a tower in the air. Other stories say it was a huge frog who belched.
Heat shimmers, KIGO


yakihamaguri, grilled right by the seaside, are a favorite with the Japanese. I remmeber the many stalls at Enoshima near Kamakura.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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other types are

choosen hamaguri チョウセンハマグリ Meretrix lamarcki
"Korean clam"
shina hamaguri シナハマグリ Meretrix petechialis
"Chinese clam"

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Some dishes with this clam

sakamushi ハマグリのさかむし, ハマグリの酒蒸し
simmered in ricewine
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Speciality of Hyogo, Kinosaki Onsen 城崎温泉（きのさきおんせん）


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時雨はまぐり, 時雨蛤 shigure hamaguri,
clamshells in sweet syrup
speciality of Mie prefecture
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
This refers back to the famous battle of Sekigahara (1600), near Ogaki castle, where the fishermen of Kuwana gave some clams to Tokugawa Ieyasu.
The clams are harvested out of the sand and then left for a while in a bucket of plain water to spit out the sand they still have in their body. They are then boiled in this water with shredded ginger roots and then cooled. Next they are simmered in special soy sauce from Ise (tamari shooyu たまり醤油) and flavored with sweet mizuame syrup.
see the haiku below !

. Sekigahara 関ヶ原 .


yakihamaguri　焼蛤 grilled Hamaguri, baked clams

The clams of Kuwana have quite a soft texture and a rich flavor. Until our day they are served in many restaurants in the city.


桑名 四日市へ三里八丁 - 3 ri and 8 cho to Yokkaichi
(about 12.7 km from Kuwana to Yokkaichi)
葛飾北斎 Katsushika Hokusai

Before starting the walk, people enjoyed some Hamaguri.
They were grilled in a fire with pine cones to add flavor, but it also produced a lot of ashes.
On the image you can see one lady fanning the fire, turning her face the other side to avoid the smoke.



歌川広重 Hiroshige - Kuwana
Detail of grilling the Hamaguri in a roadside stall.

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sushi looking like hamaguri, hamagurizushi
はまぐり寿司



Served for the Doll Festival (hina matsuri) Peach Festival, Girl's Festival

A thin omelette is folded like a clam and filled with sushi rice and some other ingredients.
http://www.justhungry.com/shell-shaped-sushi-hamaguri-zushi-girls-festival



wanko hamaguri わんこハマグリ venus clamshells to eat in fast competition
wankosoba, eating buckwheat in this way, is famous in Morioka. But this way of eating hamaguri is a speciality of the restaurant Kuwana 桑名 on Ishigaki Island 石垣島.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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Worldwide use

Venusmuschel

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Things found on the way


Painting by Hakuin

Hamaguri Kannon 蛤観音, 蛤蜊
One of the 33 incarnations of Kannon Bosatsu.

The incarnation Nr. 25 is called Hamaguri. When emperor Bunso of China in the year 831 wanted to eat a clamshell, it transfigured itself into a Kannon Bosatsu.

25. In einer Venusmuschel. (Koori, Hamaguri)
Als der chinesische Kaiser Bunsoo im Jahre 831 eine Venusmuschel (hamaguri) essen wollte, verwandelte sich diese in eine Kannon.

Kannon with Fish Basket, Gyoran Kannon
魚籃観音（ぎょらんかんのん）

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Dajare, play of words of the Edo period

sono te wa kuwana no yaki-hamaguri
その手は桑名の焼きはまぐり >
「その手は桑名い」 > 「その手は食わない」

Puns, dajare 駄洒落　ダジャレ, だじゃれ Daruma Museum

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. Famous Places of Edo .

Hamagurichoo　蛤町 Hamaguri Cho district



former 深川蛤町 一・二丁目 Fukagawa Hamaguri cho first and second district until 1911
now 江東区永代二丁目、門前仲町一・二丁目 Koto ward, Eitai second district, Monzennaka cho first and second district.
This district used to be on the shore and many fishermen lived here, looking for Hamaguri and fish. Eventually the Edo government reclaimed the land around 1600 and the third Shogun Iemitsu, when visiting the area, gave the name Hamaguri to the place.
Many fish dealers soon came to live here too and the sound of vendors could be heard.


Hamaguribori　蛤堀　Hamaguri moat



The famous explorer Mamiya Rinzō 間宮林蔵 Mamiya Rinzo (1775 - 1844) spent his last years in Hamaguri.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Kai-awase game with Daruma San


Kai-Awase clam shell game / More Photos
貝合; 貝合わせ; 貝合せ, かいあわせ

a game popular since the Heian period.



with poems of the Heian period and their poets


kigo for all spring

kaiawase, kai-awase 貝合 (かいあわせ) clam shell game
Spiel mit Muscheln
..... kai ooi 貝覆（かいおおい）container for the clam shell game
..... kaioke, kai oke 貝桶（かいおけ）container
Most were beautifully decorated.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- quote -
kaiawase　貝合
Also called kaiooi 貝覆. A shell-matching game played originally by nobles in the Heian period. A half clam shell was decorated and placed outer side-up. The matching half of the design was painted on other half shells and they were turned over one by one by players competing to match pairs. A poem or miniature painting was added inside each shell in order to facilitate matching, with the first part of a 32-syllable poem written on one half and the latter part written on its mate, while both halves were detailed with an identical motif.
The most popular subjects are flowers and episodes from GENJI MONOGATARI 源氏物語 (The Tale of Genji). The Hayashibara 林原 Museum's (Okayama prefecture) set of 180 pairs of illustrations from the GENJI MONOGATARI is a beautiful example from the Edo period.
Sets of kaiawase were often part of a bridal trousseau and this one is recorded as being brought by the bride of Ikeda Mitsumasa 池田光政 in 1628. The minute paintings are in the traditional *yamato-e やまと絵 style characterized by lavish gilt backgrounds. Hexagonal boxes *kaioke 貝桶 used for storing pairs of shells especially in the Edo period, were often decorated in the *makie 蒔絵 lacquer technique using much gold or silver.
- source : JAANUS -

. The Heian Period 平安時代 Heian jidai (794 - 1185) .
- Introduction -



. kai zaiku 貝細工 sea shell craft .

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Kai-ooi, Kai-Oi, Kaioi 貝おほひ Seashell Game
Book by Matsuo Basho, 1672
The Shell Game,
collected poems by Basho and 32 poets, edited by Basho, and dedicated to Ueno Tenjingu shrine 上野天神宮 in Iga.

This book is about a haiku contest in thirty rounds (sanjuuban ku awase). Pairs of two haiku, each one by a different poet, are matched and Basho discusses them. He also contributed two haiku, see below. His critical comments and the way he refereed the matches are most interesting. He seems to be a man of brilliant wit and colorful imagination, who had a great knowledge of popular songs, fashionable expressions, and the new ways of the world in the Edo period. This book was written in the light spirit of HAI kai.

Two haiku by Basho from this book:

きてもみよ甚兵が羽織花衣
kite mo miyo jinbe ga haori hanagoromo

(kite mo miyo : This is a double play with words, come and see, or come and wear this jinbei when looking for cherry blossoms.)

come and look!
put on a Jinbei robe
and admire the blossoms
Tr. Makoto Ueda



女男鹿や毛に毛がそろうて毛むつかし
meoto jika ya ke ni ke ga soroute ke muzukashi

husband and wife deer -
their hair is all the same
but sometimes it's different

寛文12年, Basho at 29 years

(This is a pun with ke muzukashi、to be hard to get along with.)


. light summer suit with short legs 甚兵衛 jinbei .


. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


quote
The Seashell Game (貝おほひ, Kai Ōi? is a 1672 anthology compiled by Japanese poet Matsuo Bashō, in which each haiku is followed by critical commentary he made as referee for a haiku contest.It is Bashō's earliest known book, and the only book he published in his own name. The work contains 60 haiku by 36 poets, including two by Bashō himself.

The format is based on a children's game where two seashells were placed side by side and compared. Bashō compares pairs of haiku by different authors in the same manner in the book. According to scholar Sam Hamill, The Seashell Game shows Bashō "to be witty, deeply knowledgeable, and rather light-hearted."

Bashō compares the following pair of verses on the topic of colourful autumn leaves:

How like it is to
A midwife's right hand–
Crimson maple leaf!
—Sanboku

"I haven't crimsoned.
Come and look!" So says the dew
On an oak branch
—Dasoku

In his commentary, Bashō declares that the first poem "ranks thousands of leagues" above the second.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Clam Go Stones from Hyuga Town 日向はまぐり碁石
Hyuga hamaguri Go-ishi


Hyuga City in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, is recognized as one of the most important clam shell Go stone producers in the World. Until the early 1900's clams from the Hitachi, Mikawa, and Kuwana areas of Japan were thought of as being the best for the production of high quality clam shell Go stones. However, around this time, a travelling salesman from Toyama Prefecture passed through Hyuga and took note of the quality of Hyuga "hamaguri" clam shells. The Hyuga clams had shells even thicker and denser than those coming from the other areas. The Hyuga clams were taken to Osaka and Hyuga very quickly gained a reputation as being the source of material for first class stones.

Nearly a century has passed since then, and those three areas, once known as leaders in the Go stone industry, have disappeared. Only Hyuga remains; constantly striving to maintain, and improve upon, traditional techniques. Hyuga takes pride in being the best and only home of clam shell Go stones.

However, even Okuragahama in Hyuga, the home of the famous Hyuga hamaguri clams, is suffering a scarcity of clam shells. So much so that Go stones made in Hyuga from real Hyuga hamaguri shells have reached near legendary status. While stones produced in Hyuga are crafted using time-honored traditional techniques, most of the shells themselves are now imported from Mexico. Despite the shells' immigrant status, the stones so produced proudly bear the name "Hyuga Tokusei Goishi," "Hyuga-Crafted Clam Go Stones," and are loved and sought after by Go fans the World over.
source : 　www.kurokigoishi.co.jp


Go game, Igo 囲碁 topic for haiku


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The rebellion at the Hamaguri Gate
(蛤御門の変 Hamaguri gomon no Hen) of the Imperial Palace in Kyōto took place on August 20, 1864 and reflected the discontent of pro-imperial and anti-alien groups. During the bloody crushing of the rebellion, the leading Chōshū clan was held responsible for it.
During the incident, the Aizu and Satsuma domains led the defense of the Imperial palace.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



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Umugaihime 蛤貝比売命（うむがいひめ)
Umugaihime is a personification of the
cherry-stone clam (hamaguri),
. WASHOKU
Umugaihime and Kisagaihime / akagai ark-shell clams 　


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HAIKU

At the end of his journey,
. Oku no Hosomichi 奥の細道 .
Basho wrote this haiku in Ogaki town:


蛤のふたみにわかれ行く秋ぞ
hamaguri no futami ni wakare yuku aki zo

the clamshell
divides in two and leaves
this autumn . . .

(like) a clamshell
divided in two we depart now
into this autumn . . .

The kakenotoba word with a double meaning here is

futami　二身 - 蓋身 two bodies

This expression can be interpreted in many ways.

Here Basho thinks of his physical separation from Sora, who has been his faithful companion on the road for so many weeks.

Basho also thinks of the body of his elder brother Matsuo Hanzaemon 松尾半左衛門, who had been home keeping the Basho family estate ever since Basho left him, more than 24 years ago.
His brother loved hamaguri clamshells.


There are also translations which interpret
FUTAMI as a place name in Ise 伊勢の二見.

Dividing like clam
and shell, I leave for Futami -
Autumn

. Futami Okitama Jinja 二見興玉神社 - Ise .
and meoto iwa (“husband and wife rocks,” or “wedded rocks”)

- English Reference -





. Matsuo Basho - Family Ties .
His Wife ? Jutei-Ni 寿貞尼
His Son ? Jirobei 二郎兵衛
His nephew Tooin 桃印　Toin

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Kobayashi Issa in Kamakura

蛤や在鎌倉の雁鴎
hamaguri ya zai-kamakura no kari kamome

O clams
meet the geese and gulls
of Greater Kamakura!
Tr. David Lanoue

Kamakura and Haiku

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More by Kobayashi Issa

はまぐりの芥（あくた）を吐かす月夜かな　
hamaguri no akuta o hakasu tsukiyo kana
蛤の芥を吐する月夜かな
hamaguri no gomi o hakasuru tsuki yo kana

the clam vomits
mud...
a moonlit night
Tr. David Lanoue　


clams in the bucket
left to spit out the mud
in the moonlit night
Tr. Makoto Ueda　　


moonlit night - -
clams left to spit out
the mud　
paraverse by Gabi Greve　　


It was customary to have a bowl of clam soup on the night of the full moon.

Here are two haiku by Yanagidaru:

はまぐりは月見と聞いて死ぬ覚悟　
hamaguri wa tsukimi to kiite shinu kakugo

when the clams
hear about the full moon night
they get ready to die


はまぐりのしぐれ焼き場へ籠で来る
hamaguri no shigureyakiba e kago de kuru

to the place
where they grill clams in sweet syrup
they come in palanquins

Haifuu Yanagidaru 誹風柳多留 (Edo period haiku poet)　


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Related words

***** WASHOKU : INGREDIENTS

***** WASHOKU : FISH and SEAFOOD

WASHOKU : Shells, mussels and their cuisine

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Tsukudani

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Simmering in sweetened soy sauce (tsukudani)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Topic
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

tsukudani つくだに (佃煮) simmering in sweetened soy sauce, using mirin, sugar and some spices to make it a bit hot. It does not have a watery sauce and tastes quite strong.
It has been used since olden times as a kind of food preserve. It started with the fisherman from Tsukuda island, who prepared the leftovers of fish in this way. They came originally from the Osaka area and Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu settled them at Tsukuda island.
Tsukudani is a speciality of Tokyo.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !

These preparations come with different flavors for each season.
Fish, shells, clams, meat, vegetables or seaweeds can be used.
kisetsu no tsukudani 季節のつくだ煮


kai no tsukudani 貝の佃煮　shellfish boiled in sweetened soy sauce

Tsukudani are often put into onigiri rice balls.

I remember eating ants tsukudani, have to check it out.


sansho no tsukudani 山椒のつくだ煮
Japanese pepper, "Mountain pepper" sanshoo


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tsukudani kaidoo つくだに街道, つくだ煮街道
Road of Tsukudani
Store specializing in this food


at Aichi
愛知県知多郡美浜町大字古布字枡池６番地の３


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Tsukudani is a Japanese simmered dish flavored with soy sauce and sugar, and so on. It's a great side dish to serve with hot steamed rice. When you have leftover kombu from making dashi broth, try making tsukudani.

Tsukudani is usually very salty, and it's good to eat on hot steamed rice.

Kombu no Tsukudani Recipe is here:
source : 　japanesefood.about.com / Setsuko Yoshizuka


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Tsukudani is small seafood, meat or seaweed that has been simmered in soy sauce and mirin. High osmotic pressure preserves the ingredients. Its name originates from Tsukudajima, the island (in present-day Chūō, Tokyo) where it was first made in the Edo period.
Many kinds of tsukudani are sold. Traditionally made tsukudani is preservable and has been favored as a storable side dish in Japanese kitchen since the Edo period.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


„Eingekochtes von der Insel Tsukuda“.
Mit gesüßter Sojasauce und Gewürzen.

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Tsukuda-shima Tsukuda Island

Tsukuda island is a low, sandy islet at the mouth of the Sumida river, which runs through the heart of Edo. Apart from a few patches of trees and small vegetable gardens, the entire island is occupied by a thriving village of fishermen and boat pilots, who make their living from the commerce of Edo Bay.

This island is located in an ideal spot for people who make their living from the sea. It is located right at the mouth of the Sumida river -- the largest waterway in Edo. From here, small boats can easily make their way up the river and through the network of canals to most of the neighborhoods in downtown Edo. To the south, deep water channels extend out into Edo bay. The docks of Shiba and Tsukiji are nearby, so large boats can anchor near the island as they wait to be unloaded.

The volume of goods brought into Edo is so large that no single port could possibly handle it. Although the most important cargoes are unloaded at the docks of Shiba, Tsukiji, Minato and Shinagawa, a lot of ships unload their cargoes directly onto small barges and takase-bune as they lie at anchor here, in the lee of Tsukuda island. The smaller boats then carry the goods through Edo's network of canals and waterways to small, riverside wharves, known as kashi.

Because of its location, Tsukuda island is a convenient spot for barges and small boats to stop while waiting for the large ships to start unloading. The beaches are almost always crowded with small boats, and the few chaya (teahouses) on the island are filled with customers chatting, gossipping and sipping their tea as they wait.

In addition to these visitors, the island is home to a thriving village of fishermen. The residents of Tsukuda island came to Edo in the mid-1600s at the request of the Shogun. Edo needed to increase the supply of fish to the city, because its population was growing too fast for the existing fishermen to keep up with demand. To convince people to leave their homes in western Japan and move to Edo, the Shogun offered them the special right to fish anywhere in Edo Bay that they want. Entire villages of fishermen accepted the offer, and moved to Edo, establishing large villages in the "Edo-mae" area, including one on Tsukuda island and one on the other side of the Sumida river, in Fukagawa.

Although these fishermen are not allowed to sell their products to the Shogun and his court, they do supply a large share of the fish bought by average citizens. Edo Bay is a rich source of all kinds of seafood, and the fishermen of Tsukuda island have developed many different methods of catching each type. Solitary fish, such as tai (red snapper) are usually caught with a regular fishing line. Other fish can be caught the same way, but it is usually more effective to use nets

The fishermen have developed a wide variety of different nets to catch different types of fish. Triangular nets on the end of long forked poles are used to catch fish that live in the mud at the bottom o the bay, such as hirame (flatfish) or tako (octopus). Small fish that swim in schools, for example iwashi (sardines), can be caught by just one person using a throwing net. But in order to catch larger fish, like saba (mackerel) and katsuo (bonito), the fishermen have to use huge nets, and work together in a group. Sometimes they use nets that are so big, they have to work in large groups, to haul the nets back in to shore.

Most of the fish can be caught right here in Edo Bay, but some of the largest types, such as maguro (tuna), can only be caught out in the open sea. Once in a while, fishing fleets will leave the bay for several days at a time to chase the huge schools of tuna. They may even attempt to catch a whale. When they are successful, these ocean expeditions can be very profitable. A big load of tuna or whale meat will bring a great price in the fishmarkets of Nihonbashi. However, fishing boats are not as well built as cargo ships; storms can blow up at any time out in the open ocean, so long trips to sea can be very risky. Even here in the Bay, life for most fishermen is difficult and dangerous.

Although fishing is the traditional work of the people from Tsukuda island, many of them have now taken new professions. Because of all the ships that anchor in this area to unload their cargoes, there is always demand for experienced boat pilots, who can transport goods from the large, seagoing vessels to the canal-side markets in different parts of the city. Other people, like Gyotaro, work in the city transporting people from place to place by boat -- as a sort of a "water taxi driver".
source : 　www.us-japan.org/edomatsu


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. WASHOKU
midorimushi no tsukudani みどりむしの佃煮
Euglena tsukudani with various flavors 　
yuugurena ユーグレナ Euglena



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Worldwide use

das Tsukudani
in Sojasoße gekochte Meeresfrüchte

Variante der haltbaren Zubereitung durch knuspriges Einkochen in Sojasoße und Zucker.

Baby Bienen Tsukudani


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

つくだにの蝗となって鬚のこす　　
tsukudani no inago to natte hige o kosu

to make tsukudani
out of grashoppers ...
strain the whiskers　　　　　

Ishida Tokiji 石田時次



kigo for all autumn

inago 蝗, 稲子 ( いなご) 螽 grasshopper
catching grashoppers, inago tori 蝗捕り（いなごとり）
grashoppers on sticks, inagogushi 蝗串（いなごぐし）
The animal is about 3 cm long. Its long hind legs help it to jump well, but it does not sing in autumn. To catch the animal was not not only done to clear the rice paddies of an unwanted eater, but also to prepare the delicious tsukudani for the farmers, since it contains a lot of fat and protein.
Grashoppers are also eaten in other parts of the world.
inago no kushiage, sticks with fried grashoppers イナゴは串揚げ
CLICK here for photos !




Konchuu Ryoori, konchu ryori
Insects as human food ... a chapter of its own!



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Related words

***** WASHOKU : COOKING METHODS

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Basho Issa Buson

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Famous Haiku about Food


WASHOKU : Haiku Sweets 俳菓 haika


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HAIKU by Matsuo Basho

START here with food haiku by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .



命こそ芋種よまた今日の月
inochi koso imo dane yo mata kyoo no tsuki

the source of life
in these taro seed potatoes - again
the moon of tonight
Tr. Greve


ah such a life
sweet potatoes again the source
of the harvest moon
Tr. Reichhold

Written somewhere in 寛文年, Basho about 25
Written in Iga Ueno, before moving to Edo.
The cut marker YA is in the middle of line 2.

kyoo no tsuki is the "moon of the taro potatoes" 芋名月
This hokku has the okashimi teasing flavor of the Danrin school of hokku.


. Sato-imo. satoimo 芋 Taro potatoe .
kigo for all autumn
- - - - - and
taneimo, tane-imo 種芋 seed potato of taro
kigo for mid-spring

imo meigetsu 芋名月 "taro moon"
the full moon in mid-autumn of the lunar calendar.
It was custom to boil the new sprouts of the taro and prepare a soup with it
"to nurrish the life of all generations".


from one satoimo サトイモ there are some generations

oyaimo 芋(おやいも) parent potato
koimo 子芋 child potato
magoimo 孫芋 grandchildren potato




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明日は粽難波の枯葉夢なれや
asu wa chimaki Naniwa no kareha yume nare ya

by tomorrow
the Chimaki leaves from Naniwa will become dry
and become a dream . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 1677, 延宝5年, Basho age 34.
Tomorrow is the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Boy's Festival or Seasonal Festival of the Fifth Month, Tango no Sekku 端午の節句.
This hokku has the cut marker YA at the end of line 3.


This refers to a waka by Saigyo　西行　:

津ノ国の難波の春は夢なれや
葦の枯葉に風わたるなり

Tsu no kuni no Naniwa no haru wa yume nare ya
ashi no kareha ni kaze wataru nari

In the land of Tsu,
that glorious Naniwa spring -
only just a dream?
Over the dead leaves of reeds
a harsh wind blows.
Tr. Sam Hamill


tomorrow the rice dumplings
will be just dead reed leaves
with a dream
Tr. Reichhold






. chimaki 茅巻 / 粽（Chimaki ritual rice cakes .
kigo for summer, Boy's Festival in May
.
with one more CHIMAKI haiku by Matsuo Basho
chimaki yuu katate ni hasamu hitai gami



. Naniwa, Osaka and Poetry .


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忘れ草菜飯に摘まん年の暮
wasuregusa nameshi ni tsuman toshi no kure

a handful of licorice leaves
on top of the rapeseed rice gruel -
end of the year
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 1678 延宝6年, Basho age 35

wasuregusa , lit. "grass of forgetting"
is another name for kanzoo 甘草 "sweet plant" - licorice, amaki あまき, amakusa あまくさ .

nameshi is a kind of rice gruel with the leaves of the rapeseed plant
nappa 菜っ葉.
Basho tops this gruel with finely cut licorice leaves to "forget the old year". These leaves were used as a traditional herb medicine for ailments of the stomach and intestines.


grass of forgetting
picked for a rice soup
the end of the year
Tr. Reichhold



. - kanzoo 甘草 "sweet plant" Licorice plant .
kigo for early summer
- - - - - kanzoo 甘草 daylily - Hemerocallis fulva - kigo for late summer




. nameshi 菜飯 "cooked rice with rapeseed leaves" .
kigo for all spring



飯あふぐ　嬶が馳走や　夕涼み
. meshi augu kaka ga chisoo ya yuu suzumi .
Basho and the cooked rice treat.


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塩にしてもいざ言伝ん都鳥
shio ni shite mo iza kotozuten Miyako-dori

even if pickled in salt
it will deliver the message -
bird of the capital
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in November 1678 延宝6年11月, Basho age 35.
This is a farewell hokku for his disciple Aoki Haruzumi, who is leaving for his hometown Kyoto.
青木春澄 (1653 - 1715)


pickled in salt
now it will send a message
the imperial gull
Tr. Reichhold


This is a parody about a waka of the
Ise Monogatari　伊勢物語：

名にしほはばいざこととはむ都鳥
わがおもふ人はありやなしやと

na ni shiowaba iza koto towan miyakodori
waga omou hito wa ari ya nashi ya to

If you are true to the name you bear
there's one thing I would ask you,
bird of the capital -
does the person I love
still wait for me or not?




miyakodori is a migrating bird, the yurikamome

. miyakodori 都鳥 hooded gull .
Larus ridibundus. lit. "bird of the capital"
kigo for all winter

. Miyako 花の都 Kyoto .


MORE - Visiting Kyoto
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

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悲しまんや墨子芹焼を見ても猶
kanashiman ya Bokushi seriyaki o mite mo nao




I wonder if Mo-tzu
Grieves to see the colour change
Of dropworts when cooked!
Tr. Toshiharu Oseko

"Bokusi" ideas may be closer to Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi of India.
source : kikyou0123


Written in 1680 延宝8年, Basho age 37

Does he grieve?
Mo-Tsu sees the dropwort
beeing cooked
Tr. Gabi Greve


Bokushi 墨子 Mozi, Mo-tsu is a Chinese scholar. (460- 380 BC ?)
Legend knows that he grew sad when he observed white silk threads being dyed with various pigments.
The seri dropwort gives an appetizing smell when cooked, but looses its color.
seriyaki is duck cooked with dropwort.
Basho is showing off his knowledge of ancient China.

. Chinese background of Japanese kigo .


does he grieve
the poet when he sees parsley
grow dark with cooking
Tr. Reichhold


. Japanese parcely 芹 seri, dropwort .
- - - - - another haiku by Basho
seri yaki ya susowa no ta-i no hatsu goori



quote
Mo Di (Mo Ti), better known as Mozi (Mo-tzu) or Master Mo,”
was a Chinese thinker active from the late 5th to the early 4th centuries BCE. He is best remembered for being the first major intellectual rival to Confucius and his followers.
... The most famous of these theses is the injunction that one ought to be concerned for the welfare of people in a spirit of “impartial concern” (jian’ai) that does not make distinctions between self and other, associates and strangers, a doctrine often described more simplistically as “universal love.”
Mohist Morality
source : www.iep.utm.edu


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雪の朝独リ干鮭を噛み得タリ　
yuki no ashita hitori karazake o kami etari
yuki no ashita hitori kara zake o kami e tari



A snowy morning
All I've got is dried salmon
To chew all alone
source : Sharon Hahn Darlin


snow in the morning -
alone with dried salmon
to chew on
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 延宝8年, Basho age 37. At Fukagawa



'Rich people enjoy themselves by eating the finest meat, and aspiring youths sustain themselves by chewing vegetable roots.
As for myself, I am a poor man.'

the morning of snow--
all alone, I chew
dried salmon meat
Tr. Ueda



The snowy morning -
being alone, I am happy
eating dry salmon
Tr. Peipei Qui



[headnote]
'Wealthy people eat tasty meat and strong, ambitious men eat roots.
I am just poor.'

snowy morning
all alone I chew
dried salmon
Tr. Reichhold




The morning of snow,
I find myself chewing alone
Strips of dried salmon.
Tr. Yuasa



'The rich dine on meat; sturdy youths eat vegetable roots;
but I am poor.'

snow morning:
alone, I manage to chew
dried salmon
Tr. Barnhill


. Salmon (sake 鮭) .
kigo for all autumn

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. cold rice from temple Domyo-Ji 道明寺.


. fukutojiru 河豚汁 blowfish soup .


mezurashi ya yama o Dewa no hatsu nasubi
First Minden-Eggplants from Dewa


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. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .
- asagao 朝顔 morning glory -


朝顔に我は飯食う男哉
asagao ni ware wa meshi kuu otoko kana

[headnote]
'In response to the poem about a water pepper and a firefly by Kikaku.'

by morning glories
I gobble up rice slop
like a man
Tr. Reichhold

- - -

'In response to Kikaku's firefly poem.'
Kikaku was a heavy drinker who drank day and night. Once, after drinking all night, he wrote the firefly poet at dawn.

within the grassy gate
a firefly ears nettles -
that is what I am
Kikaku

Master Basho, wishing to warn against his disciple's dissipation, copied the priest Honen's pledge against drinking, added this hokku to the end, and sent it to Kikaku


an eating-his-meal by-
the-morning-glories fellow,
that's me
Tr. Higginson

Season word: morning-glories.
With this poem, Bashô replied to his disciple Kikaku, who had written a sort of wild verse that goes “in a grass-hut doorway / a nettles-eating firefly / that’s me” (kusa no to ni ware wa tade kuu hotaru kana). Kikaku was relating himself to an old proverb, to the effect that some people (like him) have unusual tastes.
He was properly chagrined when Bashô retorted that his tastes were quite ordinary, and that morning glories and the usual breakfast porridge would do him just fine. In other words, for a true poet, the simple things of everyday life are enough.
source : Butterfly Dreams - PDF
Higginson



with morning glories
a man eats breakfast
--that is what I am
Tr. Ueda

- - -

'A response to Kikaku's firefly poem'

one who breakfasts
with morning glories:
that's what I am
Tr. Barnhill

Larry Bole comments:
[It is interesting to me that Reichhold is the only one who translates 'meshi' as 'rice slop'. Reichhold is the only translator of the three who points out that
"Basho uses vulgar terms for eating and avoids the polite word for cooked rice, 'gohan'.
Again, admiring flowers was seen as an elegant occupation, but Basho combines the activity with the most low-class way of describing eating."
I don't know if she's right about 'kuu' being vulgar.]

Gabi wrote:
I think "meshi kuu" was the normal way for a man do describe what he was doing, not especially negative or low.


Kikaku wrote
草の戸に我は蓼食ふ蛍哉
source : google books - Makoto Ueda

In response to Kikaku's firefly poem with morning glories a man eats breakfast — that is what I am ...
based on the proverb "Some worms eat nettles":

草の戸に我は蓼くふほたる哉
kusa no to ni ware wa tade kuu hotaru kana

within the grassy gate
a firefly eats nettles -
that is what I am

compared to Kikaku (who liked nightly outings with the ladies) Basho states:

I am a serious type, getting up early (with the asagao) and eat my rice cooked properly (gohan o itatdaite imasu) .
source : itoyo/basho


. WKD : morning-glory, asagao　朝顔 .


by the morning-glories
I am this rice-eating
fellow . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

This hokku has the cut marker KANA at the end of line 3.


More haiku about FOOD by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

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象潟や料理何くふ神祭
Kisakata ya ryoori nani kuu kami matsuri

Oh now Kisakata !
What special food do they eat
at the shrine festival?

Sora 曾良 (disciple of Basho)
WKD : Oku no Hosomichi 2007


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HAIKU by Kobayashi Issa

初松魚序ながらも富士の山
hatsu-gatsuo tsuide nagara mo fuji no yama


first bonito -
it comes right after
Mount Fuji

Mt. Fuji and Haiku
Tr. Gabi Greve

first bonito, hatsu-katsuo, hatsugatsuo　初鰹
kigo for all summer

The people of the Edo period loved to eat "First" things, for the first time in a season.

Bonito that swim up north and come to the Japanese coast in early spring are called Hatsugatsuo [first bonito of the season], and they have been long enjoyed since the Edo era. Katsuura fishing harbor is a representative production area. The fresher the fish, the clearer the stomach vertical stripes are, creating a gauge for freshness. The flesh is red and its rich texture is enjoyed; it is tasty as sashimi or lightly roasted, dried and grated, or boiled in square pieces with soy sauce.
source : 　www.chiba-tour.jp


初鰹只一切もうればこそ
hatsu-gatsuo tada hito kire mo ureba koso

summer's first bonito--
just tiny slices
for sale

Kobayashi Issa
(Tr. David Lanoue)



売飯に夕木がらしのかかりけり
urimeshi ni yuu-kogarashi no kakari keri

on the food for sale
the winter wind blows
this evening

Issa, 1806
Tr. Gabi Greve


. Food vendors in Edo .


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HAIKU by Yosa Buson

手まくらの夢はかざしの桜哉
temakura no yume wa kazashi no sakura kana

With some sakura-ebisen

Buson-An has more rice crackers in memory of the poet
蕪村菴（ぶそんあん）

hana mangetsu 花満月 (はなまんげつ)
agesenbei 揚げせんべい


na no hana ya tsuki wa higashi ni hi wa nishi ni
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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化けそうな傘借す寺の時雨かな
bakesoo na kasa kasu tera no shigure kana

Buson


柿食えば鐘が鳴るなり法隆寺
kaki kueba kane ga naru nari Hooryuu-Ji

Shiki


石山の石に　たばしる　あられかな
Ishiyama no ishi ni tabashiru arare kana

Basho


渋かろか　知らねど柿の 初ちぎり
shibukaro ka shiranu do kaki no hatsu chigiri

Kaga no Chiyo-Ni


MORE
WASHOKU : Haiku Sweets 俳菓 haika


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Related words

***** WASHOKU : General Information

Backup
. Basho's Food-related Haiku, Part 2 .

. Basho's Food-related Haiku, Part 3 .

Thanks to Larry Bole
for his great help with compiling the haiku.


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