Nagasaki Prefecture has a unique culture that thrives through exchanges with overseas countries.

From around the 16th century, trade with China and Portugal became more active, and a variety of dishes began to be introduced from those countries.

One of these, "Hatoshi," was adapted to create the "Hatoshi Roll." It is a dish packed with the delicious flavors of seafood, and is popular among foodies who like to eat on the go.

This time, we will explain about "Hatoshi Roll," the perfect way to create memories in Nagasaki.

What is Nagasaki's Hato Shiroll?

Nagasaki's Hatosi Roll is a dish inspired by the local dish Hatosi, which is made by wrapping a seafood paste-based filling in bread and deep frying it.

Hatoshi (shrimp tsukemono), the original model of Hatoshi Roll, was originally introduced from China during the Meiji period and is a type of takubuku cuisine. It is a style of eating where each person takes their portion of food arranged around a round table, and it seems that Hatoshi spread with the many Chinese people who were residing in Nagasaki in the early 17th century.

"蝦" means "shrimp" and "多士" means "toast". In Cantonese, it is called "蝦多士" (hato si) and is a popular dish made by sandwiching shrimp paste between bread and deep frying it. It is characterized by the deliciousness of the fluffy shrimp and the light, crispy texture of the bread.

The origin and secret story behind Hatoshiroll

The origins of Hatoshi Roll are surprisingly recent, having been created in honor of a historical drama that was broadcast in 2010. A long-established kamaboko shop in Nagasaki was looking for a "new specialty that is unique to Nagasaki" to coincide with the broadcast of the drama.

At the time, "hatosi" was not a very popular food, but this one is made with horse mackerel, meat, and vegetables from the prefecture, and is characterized by its focus on using local ingredients. The original store sold "hatosi rolls" made with horse mackerel paste at events, and they were very well received.

Recently, plain types of hatoshi stuffed with sardine and horse mackerel paste, cheese-filled hatoshi, and shrimp hatoshi rolls made from white fish have appeared, and they have become so familiar to Nagasaki residents that they are sold in stores around town.

How to make Hatosi Roll

Hatosi rolls are becoming popular as a home-cooked dish because they are made using readily available ingredients. To make shrimp hatosi rolls, remove the intestines from shrimp, rub them with potato starch and salt, rinse them with water, wipe them, and chop them finely. After prepping the shrimp, add eggs, salt, pepper, mirin, potato starch, etc. to season them, place them on bread, and roll them up.

Heat the wrapped Hatosi Roll in the microwave to cook the ingredients. Once it's heated, add enough oil to cover the bread halfway, and fry until golden brown. It's delicious with salt or lemon juice to taste.

How to eat Hatosiroll deliciously

The more you chew the Hatosi Roll, the more the seafood flavor comes out, and it is delicious even on its own.

Frozen versions are also sold at hotels, souvenir shops, and service areas, and many people buy them as souvenirs to take home. To eat at home, thawed Hatosi Rolls can be baked in a toaster oven for 5 to 8 minutes.

For those who live far away, it may be difficult to bring them home, so in that case, we recommend purchasing freshly fried Hatosi Roll at Nagasaki Airport or a direct sales store. Hatosi Roll may be one of the reasons why Hatosi, which was originally eaten as a formal dish on the takubuku table, has become enjoyed as a familiar dish like this.

Recommended sightseeing spots in Nagasaki

From here, we will introduce some recommended tourist spots in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Nagasaki Chinatown

Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown, one of the three largest Chinatowns in Japan, is a popular spot visited by tourists from all over the country.

Stretching about 250m from east to west, north to south, the area is lined with about 40 Chinese restaurants, Chinese general stores, confectionery shops, and other stores, where you can find a wide variety of Nagasaki delicacies, including hatoshi, the origin of hatoshi roll, champon, and sara udon.

It is a rare spot where you can experience the feeling of traveling to China while still in Japan.

Confucius Temple

Nagasaki Confucius Shrine is a tourist spot with over 120 years of history, where the belongings of Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, are displayed.

The vibrantly colored buildings are called temples in the Chinese architectural style, and are so beautiful that you'll want to take pictures of them. The adjacent Chinese Historical Museum displays important documents of national treasure class stored in Chinese museums.

During events, the traditional Chinese art of "face changing" is performed, and the place is bustling with tourists throughout the year.

Unzen Hell

Unzen Jigoku, with its striking name, is a tourist attraction that represents Unzen Onsen.

The smell of sulfur typical of hot springs hangs in the air, and the sight of steam billowing from underground and the hot air is reminiscent of hell. There is a rest area where you can feel the steam and geothermal heat with your feet, and hot spring eggs steamed using geothermal heat are also available for purchase.

Nearby is the Unzen Vitro Museum, where you can experience making "Nagasaki Vidro" glass, a classic Nagasaki souvenir. You can enjoy both sightseeing and the hot springs.

Access to Nagasaki

The best way to get to Nagasaki Prefecture is by plane or bullet train. There are direct flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Narita Airport to Nagasaki Airport.

The journey takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes, and costs around 40,000 yen. If you take the Shinkansen, you can go from Tokyo Station to Hakata Station, then take the express train to Nagasaki Station. It takes about 7 hours, but costs about 20,000 yen.

It takes about three hours by Shinkansen from Hiroshima Station to Nagasaki Station, and you can save time by flying from Tokushima. Depending on the location, you may be able to use LCC (low-cost carrier) or early bird discounts, so be sure to consider these when planning your trip.

Location of Nagasaki Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Nagasaki's local B-class gourmet food, "Hatoshi Roll."

Why not try the casual Hatosi Roll, which combines the exotic atmosphere of Nagasaki with the local culture?

You can also purchase it at local delicatessens and souvenir shops, so be sure to give it a try!

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