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[Mais qu’est ce que le poisson Joban-mono au juste?] Pt. 3 Tout sur la ville de Soma, sur la côte Nord de Fukushima

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La ville de Fukushima de Soma, dans la région nord de Soso de la région côtière de Hama-dori, possède des traditions distinctes et une beauté naturelle, différentes de celles du sud d’Iwaki.

Climat, Nature, Cuisine, et Tradition – Soma “luit” de toute beauté

La ville de Soma, dans le coin nord-est de Fukushima, est fraîche en été et chaude en hiver. Malgré son emplacement dans la partie nord de Fukushima, connue pour la neige pendant les mois les plus froids, la place de Soma au bord de l'océan Pacifique bénéficie d'un climat doux dans lequel il est facile à vivre.

La ville est coincée entre les montagnes intérieures et la mer ouverte, et le parc naturel préfectoral de Matsukawaura à Soma (松川 浦 県 立 自然 公園) contient le seul lagon de la côte de Fukushima ― nommé l'une des 100 vues panoramiques les plus célèbres du Japon! La lagune abrite toutes sortes d'espèces rares, et c'est un lieu de repos populaire pour de nombreux types d'oiseaux migrateurs. En plus d'admirer la faune locale, les visiteurs peuvent contempler les formes frappantes des îles parsemant l'eau, souvent comparées à Matsushima, l'une des «trois meilleures» vues panoramiques du Japon. Les îles de la lagune de Matsukawaura ressemble fortement à cette destination plus connue, ce qui lui a valu le sobriquer de «Komatsushima» (小松 島, la petite Matsushima). Que l'eau scintille au soleil du matin ou teinte en rose au coucher du soleil, le lagon offre une vue magnifique.



L'île de Mojishima, Matsukawaura

Le festival de Soma Nomaoi – Le résultat de siècles de tradition

Le Soma Nomaoi (相 馬 野馬 追) est un festival qui doit sa renommée au clan Soma (相 馬氏), la lignée des samouraïs qui ont exercé le pouvoir sur la région pendant 700 ans, de la période Kamakura au Japon (1185 ~ 1333) à l'ère Meiji (1868 ~ 1912). Le clan Soma a non seulement donné son nom à la région, mais a également offert à la ville les rituels du Soma Nomaoi, un bien culturel folklorique immatériel important officiel et un festival traditionnel bien connu connu dans tout le Japon. Nomaoi signifie littéralement «chasse à cheval sauvage», et après plusieurs jours d'équitation festive dans des armures d'époque et des processions traditionnelles de style militaire, les célébrations se terminent chaque année par un rituel où de jeunes cavaliers attrapent un cheval sauvage et le présentent à un sanctuaire shinto comme un "shinme" (神 馬, un cheval sacré) ― une tradition qui remonte aux temps historiques. C'est une expérience culturelle fascinante, et le spectacle de "samouraïs" habillés d'une armure étincelante se précipitant à cheval donne l'impression d'assister aux festivités d'un voyage dans le temps de la période Sengoku (1467 ~ 1615).



Image Source: Soma City Tourist Association
La procession Nomaoi



On se croirait durant la période Sengoku



Le crabe des neiges de Soma



Hokki Meshi (ホッキ飯) – des palourdes sur du riz

Servi avec des saveurs délicieuses

Dans les cuisines de Soma, les délices de l'océan et des montagnes se côtoient pour devenir une savoureuse cuisine locale. La région est un haut lieu des produits alimentaires de haut niveau, comme le riz qui a remporté des médailles d'or lors de conventions internationales, la sauce de soja qui a remporté les meilleurs scores aux compétitions nationales pendant des années, et les œufs élevés en plein air de spécialité ― ainsi que de nombreux autres produits, comme les fraises et les poires.

Par-dessus tout, tout comme la ville voisine d'Iwaki, la scène gastronomique de Soma est vraiment connue pour ses poissons et fruits de mer de haute qualité, appelés Fukushima Joban-mono (福島 常 磐 も の). Dans toute la ville, les restaurants et les ryokan utilisent les ingrédients les plus frais provenant directement des prises du jour même, y compris des variétés de fruits de mer plus rares. Les visiteurs ne devraient pas manquer l'occasion de se livrer à des repas à base de lotte pêchée localement, de plie de toutes sortes, de donko (ど ん こ ou gobie dormeur noir), de lançon, de poulpe, de palourde de Sakhaline, de buccin et même de crabe des neiges.

En outre, les fermes aquacoles de la lagune de Matsukawaura cultivent d'énormes bandes de nori (algue verte), qui est ajoutée à la soupe miso, frite en tempura ou même marinée. Mais le nori n'est pas seulement bon à manger ― en automne, des piquets de bambou sont alignés et collés dans le sable dans tout le lagon, et au plus fort de la récolte en hiver et au printemps, les voyageurs peuvent admirer la vue verdoyante de la culture des algues. sur des filets étalés comme un tapis vert luxuriant.



Aquaculture de nori dans le lagon de Matsukawaura à Soma

Une ville d’activités sportives et autres

Le tourisme sportif est une chose importante à Soma, et la ville est parsemée d'installations sportives dont tout le monde peut profiter. Le parcours de golf de Matsukawaura Park comprend neuf parcours et 81 trous surplombant le lagon. Il est officiellement reconnu par la Nippon Park Golf Association, tandis que le terrain de football de Koyo Soma possède un terrain en gazon naturel à côté d'un terrain en gazon artificiel qui s'aligne avec les normes du football japonais et de de la FIFA 2 Star. Les courts de tennis en gazon artificiel remplis de sable dans la ville sont même ouverts la nuit, afin que les joueurs puissent balancer leurs raquettes sous les étoiles. Les voyageurs à la recherche d'installations pour pratiquer des sports moins occasionnels trouveront également des terrains de softball et plus, disponibles toute l'année.



Terrain de golf de Matsukawaura Park

Deux villes Hama-dori avec un équilibre harmonieux entre nature, tradition et nourriture

La douceur du climat, la richesse de la mer et de la terre, les empreintes de l'histoire … Iwaki et Soma, deux villes avec leur propre personnalité, sont deux exemples parfaits de tout ce que la région côtière de Hama-dori a à offrir. Et quand il s'agit de similitudes, les mers abondantes et les fruits de mer frais sont clairement communs à Soma et à Iwaki. En japonais, ils pourraient même utiliser l'expression «umi no sachi» (海 の 幸) pour décrire les prises quotidiennes en mer – littéralement la «fortune de la mer».

Dans les prochains articles de notre série "Qu'est-ce que le poisson Joban-mono au juste?" , nous examinerons de plus près la culture culinaire et la cuisine originaires d'Iwaki, de Soma et des mers environnantes. Après avoir passé du temps à Soma et Iwaki et avoir eu une idée globale de la région, l'équipe de Japankuru est prête à vous parler de tout ce qui est sorti de l'océan, comment ces poissons et fruits de mer arrivent au marché, et tout pour profiter de la cuisine locale. Si vous vous posez la question, nous vous expliquerons également les véritables politiques et procédures de sécurité concernant les fruits de mer mises en pratique tout au long de la côte de Fukushima, afin que vous puissiez voir par vous-même ce qui se passe. Ne manquez pas notre prochain article!



Gardez un oeil à Japankuru pour d'autres articles sur Fukushima et autres news sur le Japon grâce à twitter, instagram, et facebook!

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    • Being the most densely populated area, the Kanto region (関東地方) includes the Greater Tokyo Area and 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. It is considered to be the cultural, political, economic heartland of Japan due to each prefecture offering something different from their neighbor.

    • Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.

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    • Tokyo (東京) est la capitale animée du Japon et la région métropolitaine la plus peuplée du monde. Alors que la ville dans son ensemble est assez moderne, bondée de gratte-ciel et de foules animées, Tokyo conserve également son côté traditionnel dans des endroits tels que le palais impérial et le quartier d'Asakusa. C'est l'une des meilleures villes du monde en matière de culture, d'arts, de mode, de jeux, d'industries de haute technologie, de transport et plus encore.

    • The Chubu region (中部地方) is located in the center of Japan's main island and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. Being primarily famous for its mountains like Mount Fuji and the Japanese Alps, and ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano, it is a popular winter destination for tourists.

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    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) has 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Famous for its unique culture and history of Chinese and Dutch trade and Western missionaries, Kyushu offers many historic treasures and beauties. It is also home to some of Japan's most famous natural hot springs due to all the volcanos.

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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