Hirosaki Igamenchi is a local B-class gourmet food that is popular in the Tsugaru region, centered around Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture. Hirosaki Igamenchi is sold at a variety of stores and can be eaten casually, making it a soul food that is loved by people of all ages, from children to adults.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Hirosaki Igamenchi.

Characteristics of Hirosaki Igamenchi

"Iga" in Hirosaki Iga Menchi means squid and "menchi" means minced meat. "Hirosaki Iga Menchi" is made by finely chopping squid and vegetables, mincing them, mixing them with flour, and then frying or grilling them.

It is usually eaten with mayonnaise and sauce. It is also recommended to eat it with grated daikon radish and dashi soy sauce for a refreshing taste. The firm texture of the squid is irresistible. When eaten freshly fried, the umami of the squid and the sweetness of the vegetables burst forth.

There is no specific definition for Hirosaki Igamenchi, as long as it contains squid and vegetables. Depending on the restaurant, the shape may vary depending on the vegetables used. There are crispy tempura-like ones and ones that are more like hamburger steaks and are full of meat.

There are various ways to eat it, such as with thickened sauce or tartar sauce. It goes well with alcohol, as well as being a side dish for rice. There are also some unusual dishes, such as Igamenchi rice bowls and Igamenchi hamburgers.

The History of Hirosaki Igamenchi

There are various theories about the origins of Hirosaki Igamenchi. Hirosaki Igamenchi was born in a time when there were no refrigerators.

In areas not bordering the sea, seafood was a valuable ingredient. Local people ate squid bodies delivered from the coast as sashimi, rice sushi, stews, etc. At that time, the squid legs (tentacles) and vegetables that were left over were finely chopped, mixed with wheat flour, and fried or grilled in oil, which is said to be the origin of "Hirosaki Igamenchi."

It is a dish born from the wisdom of people who wanted to use up ingredients without waste. It is said that Igamenchi was a preserved food to keep precious seafood from spoiling.

After that, igamenchi became popular as a home-cooked dish. However, as more and more households stopped deep-frying food, the time-consuming process of making igamenchi made it less common.

At that time, Tsutomu Tachinaka, who loves igamenchi and does not want this food culture to disappear, founded the "Igamenchi Taberube Club" in 2009.

Tsutomu Tachinaka says he often ate igamenchi at home since he was a child. One day, he was surprised to find that the igamenchi he ate at a bar was different from the taste he had at home. He says that learning that the way igamenchi is made and the taste differs depending on the restaurant was what prompted him to start the "Hirosaki Igamenchi Eating Club."

Tsutomu Tachinaka was working to popularize and promote Igamenchi in Hirosaki City, hoping to make it the "city of Igamenchi." He went around asking restaurants and other establishments to put Igamenchi on their menus so that they could easily eat it. He made a map and put up flags and other markers at member stores, so that people could eat it while walking around.

As a result, it began to be featured on television and other media, and is now well-known as a popular local B-class gourmet dish.

Tourist information for Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture, where you can eat Hirosaki Igamenchi, has many tourist spots. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Hirosaki City.

Hirosaki Castle

The construction of Hirosaki Castle was planned by Tsugaru Narinobu, the first lord of the Hirosaki Domain who unified Tsugaru. The second lord, Nobuhira, built the castle in 1611. It is one of 12 castles with surviving castle towers. The castle originally had a five-story, five-storey tower, but it was burned down by a lightning strike. The tower was then renovated and a three-story, three-storey tower was built. The castle is now maintained as Hirosaki Park, and within the park are a historical museum, an information centre, a botanical garden and more. It is known as one of Japan's leading cherry blossom viewing spots.

Tsugaru Domain Neputa Village

"Tsugaru-han Neputa Village" is a popular tourist spot where you can experience the Hirosaki Neputa Festival, live Tsugaru shamisen performances, and Tsugaru folk crafts demonstrations. Various neputa are on display, from a super large neputa that is 10m tall and 8m wide to 20 neputa of various sizes. There are also shops selling Aomori souvenirs and local products, as well as restaurants serving Tsugaru local cuisine, so you can enjoy yourself at your own pace.

Fujita Memorial Garden

The Fujita Memorial Garden is a Japanese garden that was established by Hirosaki City to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's incorporation and opened in July 1993. Fujita Kenichi originally built a villa here in 1921 and invited a gardener from Tokyo to create it. On the high ground of the vast garden are the Western-style building, the Japanese-style building, and the Takumi-kan (archaeological museum), all of which are registered tangible cultural properties, and on the lowlands there is also a teahouse. The garden offers a different view every time you visit.

How to get to Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

Aomori is an attractive place for both gourmet food and sightseeing, and there are various ways to access it. It is also conveniently located near the three largest cities in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

If you want to get to Aomori quickly, we recommend flying. Aomori Prefecture has Aomori Airport and Misawa Airport. If you fly from Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya, you will arrive in Aomori in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Aomori Airport to Hirosaki City, it takes about an hour by limousine bus or car.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Aomori. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture

summary

Although the vegetables and seasonings used vary from store to store, Hirosaki Igamenchi is loved by locals as a mother's cooking. There are many variations, so you can enjoy comparing the different varieties.

If you visit Aomori, be sure to try Hirosaki Igamenchi.

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