Sisters Akemi and Satsuki have devoted over 20 years of their lives to «shojin ryori,» a traditional vegetarian way of cooking practiced by Buddhist priests.
Japans most prized bluefin tuna comes from a town called Ōma where a HON-MAGURO auctioned in Tsukiji once fetched $1.4M (2003). Oma Maguro is a brand. Just the location its caught increases the price of the tuna by as much as 20%! I traveled to the town on the tip of Japans Honshu Island in Aomori prefecture to find out if the taste lives up to its reputation.
★ OUT TO SEA
First I go out to the middle of the Tsugaru Straight between Honshu and Hokkaido to see where the maguro come from. The sea is rough out there and fisherman challenge themselves with line and pole to catch a prized bluefin.
★ CUTTING UP A TUNA
I visit Oomanzoku to watch owner Takeuchi-san cut up a newly purchased hon-maguro from Tsukiji. He puts on a show 3-4 times a week and after the cut, I went in for a sashimi platter (3000 yen / $30)
★ AT THE RESTAUARNT
I moved on to HAMA SUSHI for a 7-course meal consisting of only OMA MAGURO! Menu listed below.
★ WHY IS OMAS BLUEFIN TUNA THE BEST IN JAPAN (and the world)?
According to Takeuchi-san, the bluefin in this area eat a lot of squid and that gives their meat extra tasty fat and good consistency which is prized in Japan. The Otoro (light pink fatty tuna) is by far the best Ive ever tasted!
NOTE about Bluefin Tuna overfishing / endangered status:
I was concerned about this but what I learned is that the maguro here are not net fished by big boats. They are pole and string caught meaning local fisherman dont catch more than a few at a time.
Please take note that Aomori prefecture has laws in place and although other prefecture have different laws, the fisherman of Ōma have a profound deal of respect for the hon-maguro. Despite what you hear in the news, I did not see any kind of abuse. I personally do not eat much maguro because of the news, and any maguro that is too cheap has most likely come from larger ships over fishing an area and of low quality. Omas fishing practice is the opposite, its reputation important to the city. * I felt it important to include this.
This show has been created and produced by John Daub ジョン・ドーブ. Hes been living and working in Japan for over 19 years and regularly reports on TV for Japans International Channel. ONLY in JAPAN is a registered trademark. This content cannot be reused for any purpose without the consent of the creator as stipulated in the YouTube license and copyright.
90-year old Mdm Leong swears by her Wonton Noodle recipe, given to her even before World War II, when they sold for 20 cents a bowl, and tomato ketchup was obligatory. 70-year old Mr Teo still makes from scratch, pork sausages and meat rolls in beancurd skins. The recipe is courtesy of his grandfather who learnt it more than 90 years ago.
Found only in Singapore and infrequently is Satay Beehoon. Rice vermicelli doused with unctuous scoops of savoury peanut sauce. The dish also contains plump pieces of cuttlefish; these aren’t cooked, but reconstituted from its sun-dried version using a special alkali and lots of soaking time. Madam Letchmi makes fresh Appam and Thosai, but unlike the Indian originals, she morphed her generations-old recipe to fit Singaporean tastebuds: fluffy in the centre, crispy on the edges and eaten with freshly grated coconut and orange-coloured sugar.
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About Belly Of A Nation 2: Step into the lives of Singapore hawkers cooking up salivating dishes of Oyster Omelette, Nasi Briyani, Appam. Filmed before and over the COVID-19 pandemic, will all of them be able to make it or will some end up folding for good?
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