Topics of the Week:
Nov. 6, Tue. 0:30 – 1:00 (UTC) etc.
NAGOYA CITY: Aichi – Pref.- Miso, the taste of tradition –

Miso is an essential seasoning in Japanese food culture. It’s made from soybeans and has been part of people’s daily diet in Japan for over 600 years, especially in Nagoya and the surrounding region. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, John Gathright discovers the deep taste and tradition of miso. In Nagoya region, he samples dishes such as miso-nikomi udon, noodles in a hot-pot with a rich miso flavor; and kushi-katsu, breaded and deep-fried pork skewered and eaten with miso sauce. In the city of Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture, John visits a factory that has been making miso in the traditional way for around 600 years. He also tastes a dish called jinchu-yaki, which is thought to be the way samurai warriors used to eat in the old days.

Nagoya Castle
1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Pref.
http://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/13_
english/index.html
Open daily 9:00-17:00; closed for New Year holidays
Admission: 500 yen (junior high school students and younger: 100 yen)

Miso-nikomi udon noodle restaurant
Yamamoto-ya Sohonke
3-12-19 Sakae, Chuo-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Pref.
Open 11:00-15:00 & 17:00-22:00; Saturday, Sunday & holidays 11:00-22:00; closed for occasional holidays

Kushi-katsu & miso-oden restaurant
Nonki-ya
2-18-6 Mei-eki, Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Pref.
Open 17:00-22:00; closed Sunday & holidays

Coffee shop set breakfast (Nagoya area): when you order coffee in the morning, it is served with a light breakfast.
Cafe & Dining Karen
5126-2 Denpoji-kakuno, Tanyo-cho, Ichinomiya, Aichi Pref.
Open 6:30-17:00; Sunday & holidays 6:30-11:00; closed Monday

Miso beer
Wadakan Co. Ltd.
1-4 Takami, Nitta-aza, Haguro, Inuyama, Aichi Pref.
http://www.kinshachi.jp/ (in Japanese only)

Okazaki Castle (birthplace of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu)
561 Kousei-cho, Okazaki, Aichi Pref.
http://okazakipark.com/museum/e-ryujyou/kae171.htm

Miso producer
Maruya Haccho-miso
52 Oukandori, Hachijo-cho, Okazaki, Aichi Pref.
http://www.8miso.co.jp/english.html
Visiting hours: 9:00-16:20 (free of charge)
Guided tours every 30 minutes
Reservations required for group visits
contact: 0564-22-0678 or maruya02@8miso.co.jp

Jinchu-yaki restaurant
Tsuchiya Hotel
2-16-2 Noritake, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Pref.
http://www.tsuchiya-hotel.co.jp/english/index.htm

Reporter: John Gathright