Shizuoka Prefecture home cooking: event foods

<p>The purpose of this study was to identify those dishes among home cooking that are traditionally eaten as part of special events and have been handed down the generations in Shizuoka Prefecture, divided by area: eastern, central, and western. The event foods and their cooking methods using ingredients unique to each area are described for each of the eastern, central, and western areas of Shizuoka Prefecture, each with its own historical and geographical characteristics. In Fujinomiya, the eastern area of Shizuoka Prefecture where peanuts are cultivated extensively in the volcanic ash soil of Mt. Fuji, rakkasei namasu, a dish of namasu on which coarsely ground peanuts are sprinkled, is prepared for osechi. In Ito, which is the main fishing port on the Izu Peninsula, hakozushi with mackerel soboro, is prepared as a special food for festivals and other events. In the central area of Shizuoka Prefecture, kuromame, tazukur, and kazunoko are prepared for New Year's Day, along with taro, burdock, and shiitake mushroom prepared in the nishime-style, and a namasu of daikon radish and carrots with squid and pickled mackerel. Zoni, taro, and kakumochi, and tuna nigirizushi are also prepared. Boiled fish paste products are also a part of osechi. Hishimochi colored with kuchinashi and someii are other typical dishes served at special events. In the western area of Shizuoka Prefecture, Kosai City, which is known for Arai Sekisho, suwama, originally brought by travelers traveling on the Tokaido highway, is made for the seasonal Joshi doll's festival. The Misakubo area in the mountainous region bordering Hamamatsu City has a food culture centered on millet, and on April 8th, tojikuri dumplings are made from soybeans, buckwheat flour, and wheat flour and offered to the altar of Buddha. From all the above, it is clear that Shizuoka Prefecture has an array of local food ingredients unique to the eastern, central, and western areas of the prefecture that also feature in the locally prepared event foods.</p>