"Guzouni," a local dish from Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, is a delicious dish that is unique to Japan and is packed with the bounty of nature. It is also popular with tourists, and as a local specialty dish, it is a reason for many people to visit Shimabara.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of this ingredient zoni.

Characteristics of Guzouni

Guzouni is a nutritious dish made by simmering a variety of ingredients together in a clear broth in a clay pot. The colorful vegetables and round rice cakes floating in the top of the dish are sure to whet your appetite.

There is no set format for Guzoni, and the way the stock is made and the combination of ingredients vary from household to household, so one of the charms of this dish is that you can enjoy a new taste every time you eat it.

It is common to add round rice cakes, chicken, Chinese cabbage, carrots, burdock, dried shiitake mushrooms, freeze-dried tofu, etc., and depending on the household, it is common to add grilled conger eel and fluffy rolled eggs. More than 10 kinds of ingredients are put into one clay pot, and the umami of the ingredients mix together to create a deep flavor.

It is a nutritious dish that allows you to consume plenty of seafood and vegetables, and warms both the body and soul. After you have finished eating the ingredients, you can add rice to the remaining soup stock to make porridge, which is a unique way of eating in Shimabara. The rice, soaked in the sweetness of the soup stock, has a gentle taste and can be enjoyed until the very last bite.

The history of ingredients in zoni

Shimabara's local dish, "Guzouni," is a dish with a deep history and unique charm. Its origins date back to the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. The people of Shimabara and Amakusa, who suffered from the oppression of Christians and heavy taxes, rose up in a force of 37,000 and barricaded themselves in Hara Castle, the residence of the former lords, the Arima clan.

At that time, Amakusa Shiro, the commander-in-chief of the rebel army, is said to have boiled rice cakes he had stored and ingredients he had gathered from the mountains and seas in a large pot to support the physical strength and morale of the people. Guzoni is imbued with this powerful history, and the act of everyone gathering around the same pot has also become a symbol of unity.

Guzouni is still handed down in Shimabara households today, and is especially popular on New Year's Day and other special occasions. Although the old recipes no longer exist, the method of making it has been passed down orally and is carefully preserved.

In 2007, it was selected as one of the "100 Best Local Dishes of Rural Areas" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and as a representative local dish of the prefecture, it is sometimes served in school lunches. It can also now be enjoyed in restaurants and other establishments all year round.

Tourist spots in Nagasaki

Nagasaki, where you can enjoy guzouni, has many tourist spots. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Nagasaki city.

Gunkanjima

Gunkanjima (Hashima Island) is an artificial island located about 20km southwest of Nagasaki Port, and is known as an important undersea coal mine that supported the modernization of Japan. It was named Gunkanjima because of its appearance similar to the battleship "Tosa", and at its peak in 1960, it was the most prosperous island with the highest population density in the world.

The island was built like an urban area, with reinforced concrete housing complexes, schools, hospitals, movie theaters, and other facilities, allowing people to live their lives entirely on the island. After the mine was closed in 1974, the island became uninhabited, but tourists were allowed to enter in 2009, and it was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

Glover Garden

Glover Garden is a tourist attraction that stretches across Minamiyamate and offers a panoramic view of Nagasaki Port. The mansions of foreign merchants who were active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period were relocated here, and you can enjoy the exotic atmosphere of the Western-style buildings.

The park is home to nine precious buildings, including the Thomas Glover mansion, Japan's oldest wooden Western-style building, making it a special space where you can feel the history and culture of Nagasaki. The stone-paved roads, heart-shaped stones, and nighttime illuminations from July to October are also highlights, creating a romantic atmosphere. It is also popular to rent retro costumes and stroll around the park feeling like you are in the old days.

Meganebashi

"Meganebashi" is the oldest arched stone bridge in Japan, built in 1634 by Zen priest Mokushi Nyojo of Kofuku-ji Temple, and stands gracefully over the Nakajima River in Nagasaki City. It was named "Meganebashi" because the shadow of the bridge reflected on the surface of the river looks like spectacles, and it is counted as one of Japan's three most famous bridges, along with "Nihonbashi" in Tokyo and "Kintaibashi" in Yamaguchi.

Although it was partially destroyed in the Nagasaki flood of 1982, it was restored the following year and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Along the river, there are hidden "heart stones" that are popular as power spots for love fulfillment, and it's fun to search for them. During the winter lantern festival, the area around the bridge is decorated with lanterns, creating a fantastical landscape.

How to get to Nagasaki

Nagasaki, which is attractive for its gourmet food and sightseeing, is located in a convenient location. There are various ways to get there, such as by plane or JR, but by plane you can arrive in Nagasaki in no time.

It takes about two hours from Haneda Airport, and about an hour and a half from Itami Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport, and Naha Airport. You can get a cheap flight by taking advantage of early bird and round-trip discounts.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Nagasaki.

Location of Nagasaki Prefecture

summary

Guzoni is a warm clay pot dish made with colorful ingredients that conveys the wisdom and unity of the people who supported the long war at that time and continues to preserve the local flavor along with history.

If you visit Nagasaki, be sure to try Guzouni.

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