Joshu refers to the area that currently represents Gunma Prefecture. Have you heard of the "Joshu Katsudon" that is eaten in the area? When you hear the word katsudon, you might imagine a dish of sweet and spicy stewed pork cutlet bound with egg, but Joshu's katsudon has a slightly unusual feature.

This time, we will introduce Gunma's local gourmet dish, "Joushu Katsudon," focusing on its characteristics and history in Takasaki City.

What is Gunma's local gourmet dish, "Joushu Katsudon"?

The Joshu region is said to be a place of cheerfulness, good spirits, and a lively atmosphere, with people saying things like "housewives rule," "winds blowing," and "thunder." This is also reflected in the appearance and cooking methods of the food.

"Joushu Katsudon," a dish eaten in Gunma Prefecture, is a simple dish of freshly fried pork cutlet dipped in sauce and then served on top of rice.

There are several varieties of Joshu Katsudon, and in Kiryu City in the eastern part of Gunma Prefecture, the standard is the Kiryu Sauce Katsudon, which is made by dipping fillet cutlets in sauce. Meanwhile, in Tomioka City, Fujioka City, Annaka City, and other cities in the southwest, the Tare Katsudon, which is made by dipping cutlets in a sweet and spicy sauce, is more popular.

Takasaki City, located on the border between these two regions, is home to both sauce katsudon and sauce katsudon restaurants, and is characterized by the fact that you can come across many long-established restaurants with a long history.

So far, we have introduced the regional characteristics of Joshu Katsudon, but we must not forget that each restaurant has its own unique characteristics, such as the taste of the sauce, the size of the katsu, the coarseness of the batter, etc. There are also restaurants where you can add an extra piece of katsu as a topping, or where you can enjoy katsudon for just 500 yen, so it may be fun to search for your favorite restaurant.

Incidentally, Joshu Katsudon is also served at udon and soba restaurants, and the reason for this is actually deeply connected to the history of its origin.

The origin and origin of Joshu Katsudon

There are various theories about the origin of katsudon in Japan, but the original katsudon was not a dish bound with eggs like today. One theory is that it began during the Meiji period, when the owner of a soba restaurant could not forget the taste of the katsuret he had eaten while visiting Tokyo, and tried to incorporate it into his menu.

It was also served in a rice bowl so that it could be easily served at soba restaurants, which did a lot of delivery at the time.

Next, regarding the roots of the katsudon in Joshu, it is said to have originated in an eel restaurant in Kiryu City. When the restaurant blended Worcestershire sauce with the eel sauce they used and tried serving it on katsudon, it became popular and the number of restaurants offering sauce katsudon began to increase.

Kiryu City was originally a city with a thriving textile industry, and it seems that the delivery of sauce katsudon, which is delicious even when cold, was popular. It is said that the culture first took hold when people came to buy luxury textiles and served katsu made with fillet meat.

Types of Joshu Katsudon

From here, I will introduce the different types of Joshu Katsudon.

Sauce katsudon is popular in Kiryu City and other areas.

"Sauce katsudon" is a popular soul food in Gunma Prefecture, and can be found in Maebashi, Isesaki, and other cities in addition to Kiryu. The cutlet is generally made with tender fillet meat, and instead of the shredded cabbage that is common in Shinshu sauce katsudon, the fillet cutlet is dipped in sauce and served generously on top of the bowl.

The sauce is based on Worcestershire sauce, with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and other ingredients added, giving it a Japanese flavor similar to soba noodles "kaeshi."

Sauce was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period. It is a seasoning that became popular when Western food started to spread in Japan. The original katsudon combines sauce, which has a Western feel, with a Japanese seasoning called kaeshi (turning over) for soba noodles, making it a dish that can be described as a fusion of Japanese and Western styles.

Tarekatsudon is a popular dish in Takasaki City and the southwestern area.

Tarekatsudon, which is common in Takasaki City and southwest Gunma, is a dish where crispy pork cutlet is dipped in sweet and spicy soy sauce, allowing you to enjoy the juicy taste of the pork cutlet and the rice soaked in the sauce. The sweet sauce whets the appetite, and it's so delicious that you'll finish it in no time. In Annaka City, there is also a slightly unusual tarekatsudon, which is a pork cutlet stewed in a sweet and spicy sauce and topped with tartar sauce.

The deliciousness and appeal of Joshu Katsudon

In my opinion, the Joshu Katsudon is a dish that combines the three flavors of soft and juicy pork cutlet, crispy batter, and the flavors of the sauce and dressing to create an exquisite harmony.

At first glance, it looks like a simple white and brown dish of freshly fried pork cutlet on white rice, but one bite and you can enjoy the delicious meat, the texture of the batter, the richness, and the deep flavor of the sauce and dressing. Also, the seasoning varies by region, and in Gunma Prefecture, you can find a wide variety of rice bowls, such as sauce pork cutlet bowl, sauce pork cutlet bowl, and pork cutlet bowl topped with egg, which is a big attraction.

You can enjoy a slightly different kind of katsudon at an affordable price, so why not give it a try?

Access to Takasaki City

From here, we will introduce how to get to Takasaki City, where there are restaurants serving both sauce katsudon and sauce katsudon.

Takasaki City is also famous for Lake Haruna, known as the lake in the sky. Because of its high altitude and cool summers, it is a popular summer resort in Gunma. You can enjoy sightseeing boats and other activities on the lake, as well as smelt fishing in the winter.

The lake is surrounded by mountains, and there are many outdoor leisure activities such as hiking, mountain climbing, camping, etc. It's a perfect place to relax, so be sure to check it out if you're in Takasaki City.

If you are coming from Tokyo, you can get there in about 50 minutes using the Hokuriku Shinkansen or Joetsu Shinkansen, or in about 2 hours if you take the JR Takasaki Line.

If you go by car, it will take about an hour and a half via the Kan'etsu Expressway.

Location of Gunma Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced the local gourmet food of Gunma Prefecture, Joshu Katsudon.

The history behind its origins is deep, and it was an interesting discovery to discover that the seasoning varies depending on the region, such as sauce katsudon or sauce katsudon.
"Joushu Katsudon" has plenty of elements to enjoy its flavor, such as appetizing sauces and dressings, and the harmony it creates with white rice.

If you visit Gunma Prefecture, be sure to visit some local shops.

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