Wow it has been quite awhile since I have written in my blog! As I have returned to Japan, I decided it would be best if I continued with my original blog.
Though Yamagata, a place known for its mountains, sounds like a place that would have a relatively mild summer, it is the opposite! In fact Yamagata holds the record for the hottest temperature recorded in Japan. This, paired with the humidity, makes for an interesting array of staying cool strategies and lots of water bottles in the fridge.
The heat may have slowed me down, but it has not kept me from venturing out into Japan. In fact I recently returned to Akita to watch the famous Kanto Festival. It is quite the sight to see.
I also recently went to a famous festival in Yamagata. The festival is essentially the Potato Soup Superbowl. Literally, there is a giant steel pot in which they cook potato soup for thousands of people. The size of the pot is impressive and the festive atmosphere is always enjoyable, but perhaps the most interesting aspect of the whole scene were the “soup ladels”. Of course I mean the two back-hoes positioned on platforms level with the top of the pot. It was the first time I have ever seen a construction vehicle used as a kitchen utensil. The first question you may ask is, “What about the hydraulic fluid, oil, and grease!?" I too pondered this conundrum. The bucket section is wrapped in plastic until use at the event in order to keep it clean, and the drivers of the machines take care to only lower the specially designed bucket into the soup. The operator would then lift the soup filled bucket and lower it down to another large pot from which volunteers poured it into individual bowls. This being said, I don’t know that I am fully convinced that the soup doesn’t have a dash of motor oil in it somewhere!
The event lasts all day and while a $3.00 ticket is required to get in line for some of the soup, toward the end of the event it becomes more of a free for all as everyone has had their fill. So many people bring their own pots from home and get some to take home with them. Not wanting to wait in line, I joined the last call for a bowl of soup and ate while watching the crowd slowly disperse, carrying their potato stew filled pots with them.
The chefs in the picture are all volunteers from local high schools, they worked the tables filling up bowls of soup and handing them out to the customers.
A friendly man and his granddaughter who said hello.
Until next time!
Jeff
