This time, we will introduce the history and characteristics of Satsuma Soup, a local B-class gourmet dish from Kagoshima Prefecture.

Kagoshima Prefecture is located in Kyushu, Japan, and is home to three World Heritage Sites, including Yakushima.

Additionally, all of the vegetables and fruits grown in this area's natural bounty are delicious, meaning there are many local specialties.

This time, we will be giving you a thorough explanation of Satsuma Soup, a charming local B-class gourmet dish from Kagoshima Prefecture!

What is Satsuma soup?

Satsuma soup is a miso soup made with plenty of chicken and vegetables.

It is a popular local dish that can be eaten all year round, but since it is a warm dish, it is often eaten in the winter.

The History of Satsuma Soup

In Kagoshima Prefecture, it has long been a tradition to eat boiled chicken.

According to the "Satsuma Kyudenshu," during the Edo period, Satsuma samurai held cockfights, a sport in which chickens were made to fight, and a custom was born of boiling and eating the chicken that lost the fight on the spot, with men boiling it with vegetables and eating it.

After cockfighting was banned, it is said that households began to let their chickens roam freely and to cook and eat them on special occasions and celebratory occasions, and chicken dishes have become an indispensable part of the lives of Kagoshima residents.

Even today, chicken farming is popular in Kagoshima Prefecture, and some of the most well-known local chickens include Satsuma Wakashamo, Satsuma Jidori, and Kuro Satsuma Chicken.

These chickens are branded as "Kagoshima Jidori" and are popular for the chewy, sweet, and colorful meat.

As you can see, chickens and Kagoshima Prefecture have a long history together, and even today a variety of chicken dishes such as yakitori and chicken rice are enjoyed in Kagoshima.

The appeal of Satsuma soup

The appeal of Satsuma soup is that it uses seasonal vegetables, allowing you to enjoy a variety of seasonings and vegetable flavors.

Not only does the chicken stock seep into the miso soup, but you can also enjoy the umami and flavor of seasonal vegetables. Another appealing point is that the seasoning varies depending on the household or restaurant, so you can enjoy different flavors depending on the season and the household.

How to make Satsuma soup

From here, I will introduce how to make Satsuma soup.

The ingredients you will need are 40g chicken thighs, 1/2 a piece of fried tofu, 60g sweet potato, 30g carrots, 2 fresh shiitake mushrooms, a dashi cup, miso, and powdered sansho pepper.

You can add any vegetables you like, but here we will look at how to make it using vegetables that are commonly used in Satsuma soup.

First, cut the sweet potato into 2cm cubes and soak in water. Next, cut the fried tofu into 2cm squares, the carrot into 1cm thick chrysanthemum shapes, the shiitake mushrooms into quarters after removing the stems, and the chicken into 2cm cubes.

Next, put the stock and chicken in a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low, skim off the scum, add the chopped vegetables and continue to simmer.

Then reduce heat to low, cover the pot and simmer for a further 12-13 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Finally, dissolve the miso in the soup, bring to a boil, then transfer to a serving dish and it's done. You can also sprinkle some powdered sansho pepper on top to taste.

Tourist spots in Kagoshima Prefecture

From here, I will introduce some tourist spots in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Sakurajima

Sakurajima is one of Kagoshima's most famous tourist spots and is known as the symbol of the island.

Sakurajima is a composite active volcano consisting of two peaks, Kitadake and Minamidake, with a height of 1,117 meters, a circumference of about 52 kilometers, and an area of about 80 square kilometers. It is known as a rare volcano in the world that is still active today.

At the Sakurajima Visitor Center on Sakurajima, you can learn about the history of volcanic activity, the changes in the landscape caused by volcanoes, and the history of Sakurajima.

Saigo Takamori Bronze Statue

In Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, there is a bronze statue of Saigo Takamori, who played a major role in the bloodless surrender of Edo Castle and the establishment of the new Meiji government during the Meiji Restoration.

This was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Saigo Takamori. The image of Japan's first army general standing in a pose in his uniform is quite impressive when you see it in person.

It is visited by people who love history and those who want to take commemorative photos in front of Kagoshima's most iconic monument.

Senganen

Sengan-en is the site of a villa and its gardens built by Shimazu, the lord of the Satsuma domain, in the early Edo period.

From this garden you can see Kinko Bay and Sakurajima, and the magnificent scenery captivates all who see it.

Near Sengan-en is the World Heritage Site "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," where exhibits are held on the history of the Shimazu clan and the country's modernization efforts.

Access to Kagoshima Prefecture

From here, we will introduce how to access Kagoshima Prefecture.

If you are traveling from Tokyo to Kagoshima Prefecture, we recommend flying. The flight time from Haneda Airport to Kagoshima Airport is about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

If you are traveling from Osaka to Kagoshima Prefecture, we recommend flying. The flight from Kansai International Airport to Kagoshima Airport takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and you can purchase a one-way ticket for less than 10,000 yen.

Location of Kagoshima Prefecture

summary

This time, we introduced "Satsuma soup," a local B-class gourmet food from Kagoshima Prefecture.

We learned that Satsuma soup is a miso soup with plenty of chicken and vegetables. We also learned that Kagoshima Prefecture and chicken have a long history together.

Kagoshima Prefecture has many other attractions, including delicious food and beautiful tourist spots, so be sure to check it out!

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