This time, we will introduce the characteristics and history of Ehime Prefecture's local B-class gourmet food, "Jakoten."

Ehime Prefecture is a city located in the northwest of Shikoku, facing the Seto Inland Sea and Uwa Sea, where many large and small islands float.

Furthermore, Ehime Prefecture is a prefecture rich in nature, including the Shikoku Mountains, which include Mount Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan.

This time, we will introduce you to the charming local B-class gourmet food of Ehime Prefecture: "Jakoten"!

What is Jakoten?

Jakoten is a paste made from fresh small fish from the Uwa Sea, including the flesh, bones and skin, which is then mixed with flour, eggs and salt and deep fried.

It is rich in nutrients and good for your health, and because it is made into a paste, it is easy for children who don't like small fish to eat.

It is eaten all year round, regardless of the season, but is especially common in the Nanyo region. It is an indispensable side dish on the dinner table, and is also popular as a snack to go with alcohol.

The history of Jakoten

In places like Yawatahama and Uwajima, where a lot of fish is caught in the Uwa Sea, a variety of dishes are made using the fish. The most famous of these is "Jakoten."

In Uwajima, fried fish paste has long been called "tempura," and among them, tempura fried with the skin and bones included was called "skin tempura."

One theory is that it was called "zakoten" (zakoten) because it was made with various kinds of fish, and that this later came to be called "jakoten," while another theory is that it comes from the raw material, firefly jako (firefly jako).

It is said that Jakoten began in 1615 when Hidemune Date, the first lord of the Uwajima domain, remembered his hometown and brought over a kamaboko craftsman from Sendai to make it.

Characteristics of Jakoten

One of the characteristics of Jakoten is that it is packed with nutrients.

Because it uses whole fish bones, it is rich in calcium and minerals.

Another appealing feature is that it can be eaten all year round, regardless of the season, and is easy to prepare, making it a convenient, delicious and nutritious way to get food.

How to make Jakoten

From here, I will introduce how to make Jakoten.

What you will need is 200g of lizardfish skin and small horse mackerel meat, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, a suitable amount of flour, 1/2 an egg, and a suitable amount of frying oil.

First, finely pound and rub the skin of the lizardfish with a knife, then add salt, flour, and eggs and mix until stiff.

Form this into oval shapes and deep fry in oil to finish.

It's so easy to make that it's a popular dish at home too.

Things to do in Uwajima

From here, we will introduce tourist spots in Uwajima City.

Uwajima Castle

Uwajima Castle is said to have been built around 1603 by Todo Takatora, a famous castle builder.

The current castle tower was built by Muneto, the second feudal lord of the Uwajima Date clan, in 1666. It is recognized as one of the 12 castle towers, and is also called "Tsurushima Castle" because of the white castle tower that stands tall on the mountaintop.

Uwajima Castle is characterized by its white walls, and in spring, the cherry blossoms surrounding the castle bloom in full glory, making it even more beautiful.

Southern Paradise

Nanrakuen is one of the largest Japanese gardens in Shikoku. In 1989, it was selected as one of the "100 Best Urban Parks in Japan."

The garden features a stroll-style Japanese garden with two large ponds that can be enjoyed while walking around. You can enjoy the seasonal flowers, including 30,000 irises, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, azaleas, and 200,000 plants of approximately 150 different varieties.

Additionally, there are restaurants dotted around the park where you can enjoy local cuisine such as sea bream dishes.

Hiburi Island

Hiburi Island is an island located in the Uwa Sea west of Uwajima City.

This spot is known as one of Ehime Prefecture's most scenic spots, and is a place where you can enjoy seeing the uniquely shaped inlet with many bends, sea caves, and strange rock formations.

Here you can enjoy reef fishing and line fishing, and it is a popular swimming beach in the summer, visited by many locals.

Access to Uwajima City

From here, we will introduce how to access Uwajima City.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Uwajima, we recommend taking the express bus. The journey takes about 14 hours, but it is easy to access with few transfers. Take the Orange Liner Ehime from Shinjuku Busta to Yawatahama Station, then take the Uwajima Express to Uwajima Station in about 30 minutes.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Uwajima, we recommend taking the express bus. After taking the UWAJIMA EXPRESS from Osaka Station to Uwajima Bus Center, you can walk to Uwajima in 10 minutes. The journey takes about 7 hours and 20 minutes.

Location of Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced the characteristics and history of "Jakoten," a local B-class gourmet food from Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture.

We learned that Jakoten is a simple, delicious and nutritious dish that is a local dish eaten daily by people in Ehime Prefecture.

We also learned that Ehime Prefecture's appeal doesn't end with Jakoten; it also has many tourist spots such as Uwajima Castle and Minami Rakuen that are visited by many tourists.

Although it is far from Tokyo, it is relatively easy to access with few transfers, so please do come and visit.

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