Have you ever heard of the term “Hamamatsu Power Food”?
“Hamamatsu Power Food” is seasonal ingredients and dishes harvested in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area.
It is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu, who spent 17 years in Hamamatsu and later became a ruler of Japan, supported the rise of Tokugawa Ieyasu through the region’s rich food, including seafood from Lake Hamana.
The Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area is known for its long sunshine hours and warm climate. It is said that Tokugawa Ieyasu once loved Tokugawa Ieyasu’s food culture, which was nurtured by its rich marine resources and diverse soil.
Among them, we visited Bonzaru, a restaurant that serves many nutritious dishes such as soft-shelled turtle, blowfish, and eel, and spoke to the owner, Takahiro Hakamada.
When I first asked about the origin of the store’s name, I was told that the company’s president, Sachio Suzuki, was born in the year of the Monkey, so the name meant “ordinary monkey.”
In honor of the monkey, an animal that is said to be the origin of humankind, we value the basic idea (origin) of “making our customers happy.”
Hakamada joined Bonzaru nine years ago. Mr. Hakamada was a salaryman with no experience in the food and beverage industry at the time, but the first thing that surprised him when he became involved with the restaurant was the attitude of the staff, who focused directly on the food.
Even though he didn’t know what was right and what was left, he interacted with customers every day, and as he was nurtured by the voices behind the counter saying, “It’s delicious!”, he says that the scenery he saw changed.
When I asked about the characteristics of the restaurant, I was told that they have prepared a rich menu of food and drinks, in order to fulfill the president’s desire to “fulfill the wishes of our customers as much as possible.”
The interior of the restaurant, which includes counters, private rooms, and large tatami rooms, is designed to accommodate a variety of situations.
Among the many menus, the soft-shelled turtle dish is popular among both men and women as it is rich in collagen.
Even in Hamamatsu, the birthplace of soft-shelled turtle farming, we carry Tokumaru soft-shelled turtles, a brand with little distribution that takes time and effort to raise.
When asked about the recommended way to prepare soft-shelled turtle, a power food that is high in protein, low in calories, and rich in nutrients, the recommendation was a hot pot that brings out the flavor of simple ingredients.
The soup stock has a rich flavor but no flavor, and it is said that it is customary to turn it into porridge at the end.
Smooth raw caramel made with soft-shelled turtle soup and soy milk is also popular as a souvenir.
This product was born out of the desire to make it easier to eat soft-shelled turtles, but it has no taste or fishy smell and is packed with concentrated essence.
When the conversation turned to the coronavirus pandemic, he honestly talked about his feeling of having nowhere to go, saying, “It’s not anyone’s fault, but it’s been a difficult period for restaurants.”
He then says, “Although it may not be directly related to the coronavirus pandemic, I want you to enjoy a delicious meal.”
It’s easier than ever to fill your stomach, but there is a limit to the amount and number of times you can eat in your lifetime.
“I would be happy if you could cherish your precious meal time.”
“As one of those options, we want to offer food that people don’t usually eat at home, a welcoming space, and time-consuming professional cooking.”
He talked about the role that eating out will play in the post-coronavirus era.
Finally, when I asked him about his future plans, he told me two goals.
One is to revitalize Bonzaru, which was once an aspirational store for the city’s young people and a cool place visited by professional soccer players, so that it will appeal to today’s young people as well.
Regular customers sometimes ask, “You’ve been working at the store for a long time, why don’t you start your own business?”, but Mr. Hakamada says he wants to stick to the work he can do in his current environment.
The other is to spread the word about Hamamatsu’s delicious food.
Like Tokugawa Ieyasu, who unified Japan from Hamamatsu, we are also eager to take on the challenge of spreading the appeal of Hamamatsu Power Food, which was blessed with the natural beauty of Hamamatsu, beyond the local area.
Link: Bonzaru「http://www.bonzaru.com/」
An amazing sunset seen from the top of the mountain! Winter-only spectacular sunset plan| Lake Hamana Paragliding School
“I want to spend special time with someone special”
If you are such a person, we recommend the “Visit to the Spectacular Paragliding Site” experience at Lake Hamana Paragliding School!
Among them, the “Spectacular Sunset Plan”, which is only available in winter, is a romantic activity where you can watch the sun set over Lake Hamana from the top of the mountain.
This time, we actually experienced the “Breathtaking Sunset Plan” together with Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana Tourism Ambassadors Ms. Haruka Isobe and Mr. Akira Natsukawa, so we will report in detail on its charms!
What kind of place is Lake Hamana? Sea Lake Textbook – Seafood Edition – now on sale! !
I don’t think there is anyone who lives in this area who doesn’t know about Lake Hamana. I think everyone has at least once gone out to collect clams, go fishing, or go for a drive along the shore of Lake Hamana. Lake Hamana is a very familiar place to us.
What would you say if someone asked you again, “What kind of place is Lake Hamana?” You probably won’t be able to give a good answer like, “Hmm. There’s nothing special about it…” I want to know more about Lake Hamana. With this in mind, I began creating this “Sea Lake Textbook”.
This book was originally based on a poster titled “50 Amazing Things in Hamamatsu and Lake Hamana”. This poster is intended to convey that there are many wonderful things to see in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area. The “Lake of the Sea Textbook” is an even more in-depth study. Both were created for local elementary and junior high school students, and were produced as part of the “Lake Hamana Tourism Area” project, which is working to create a tourist area that encompasses Hamamatsu City and Kosai City. Normally, when we think of tourism, we think of inviting visitors from outside, but why local elementary and junior high school students? There is a reason for this.
Have you ever heard of the term civic pride? It means that citizens have pride and attachment to their region. In the field of tourism, there is now a need to foster this civic pride. So why does fostering civic pride lead to tourism?
When you feel pride and attachment to your region, you can’t help but want to share it with others. “Lake Hamana is an amazing place, so come and visit us!” When residents say these words one after another, they attract people from outside, and the residents want to convey the goodness of Lake Hamana to people who come from outside. It will be. And the goodness of Lake Hamana is passed on from person to person. This is the ideal form.
So what can we do to help residents feel civic pride? First of all, let’s let people know that Lake Hamana is amazing! With that in mind, I created 50 amazing posters. The first thing you need to do is stop and look at the poster. After that, I decided to create a textbook that would be more accessible and readable. First, by getting elementary and junior high school students interested, the children will pass it on to their parents, and the parents will also become interested. I want to create something that will lead to understanding the richness of Lake Hamana.
How was Lake Hamana formed?
When did it become connected to the sea?
What kind of creatures do the fish and shellfish live in?
It’s connected to the sea, but is it salty?
How deep is it?
Luxuriously take home one ball! If you’re looking for melon picking in Hamamatsu, go to “Kashima Harvest”
Muskmelon is juicy and has a rich aroma.
Did you know that Shizuoka Prefecture is actually famous for producing cantaloupe?
introduce Kashima Harvest, a tourist farm where you can pick melons in Kurematsu-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
When you go melon picking at Kashima Harvest, you can take home the melon you harvested.
In addition, there is a tasting experience where you can enjoy chilled melons that are perfect for eating on the spot during the hot summer!
Let me introduce you in detail.