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Oita Prefecture

Atama ryori

Atama ryori
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  • Image Source : Takeda Saryo

  • Image Source : Oita Prefecture

Main lore areas

Takeda City

Main ingredients used

Large fish

History/origin/related events

Located in the southwestern part of Oita Prefecture, Taketa City is surrounded by the Kujyu mountain range, the outer rim of Aso, and the foot of Mt. After the Shiga clan entered Oka Castle in the Warring States Period, the Nakagawa clan moved to the area around the time of the unification of Japan by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the castle town was built in Takeda Village, the city developed with a focus on commerce. Although much of the scenery of the old days was eventually lost during the Sounan War, the city center still retains some of its old features, such as the samurai residences.
During the Edo period (1603-1867), when the transportation infrastructure was not well-developed, people in this inland area, far from the sea, had few opportunities to eat sea fish, and fresh seafood was rarely consumed. In order to use rare fish and shellfish without wasting them, the "head dish" was invented.
The head is used in a wide variety of dishes, including the gills, jaw, and entrails, as well as the meat of the fish. The ingredients used in "head dishes" include not only the meat of the fish, but also the gills, jaw, and entrails, leaving only the head. These are then quickly blanched in hot water and served on a platter. The ingredients used include ara, kue, nibe, grouper, and other large fish. The large fish are used in their entirety and enjoyed with family and guests.

Opportunities and times of eating habits

It was eaten on festive occasions such as celebrations. Once cooked, the fish can be preserved for a while, so it is also served to New Year's guests. Nowadays, "head dishes" are rarely served at home, but a long time ago, it is said that at the end of the year, people would take a cutting board out to the porch and prepare a big fish.

How to eat

Boil the parts of the fish other than the head, such as the meat, jaw, pectoral fins, cod roe, and entrails, quickly in salted water and blanch in cold water. Arrange the fish on a platter and serve with a dipping sauce made of sanbaizu (vinegar) or a squeeze of kabosu (a type of citrus fruit), along with such condiments as green onions and grated monkshood. The acidic seasoning enhances the refreshing taste of the fish.

Efforts for Preservation and Succession

(Outline of the people who have passed down the tradition, preservation groups, use of SNS, modern efforts such as commercialization, etc.)
Even today, when transportation and technology have been improved, it is still served at festive occasions, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day in Takeda City.
Although the number of restaurants that serve "head dishes" has decreased, there are still some restaurants that serve "head dishes" with reservations.

RECIPE

Ingredients (For 12 persons)

  • Large whitefish such as nibe, ara, grouper, kuei, trout, etc. 10 kg (~60 kg)
  • Seasonal vegetables (cucumber, etc.) As needed
  • Kabosu (kabosu) As needed
  • Nihaizu (vinegar) or Sanhaizu (vinegar) As needed

How to cook

  • 1. Remove the scales from the fish and separate the body and head.

  • 2. Insert a knife under the gills and remove the pectoral fins together. Separate the head, bones, gills, and pectoral fins.

  • 3. Remove the gills and detach the upper and lower jaws. Remove the meat from the gills.

  • 4. Remove blood, stickiness, etc. from the gills and blanch with salt to clean.

  • 5. Clean the stomach (kouwata), liver, intestines, ovaries (mako), and testes (milt) with a knife and sprinkle with salt.

  • 6. Remove the fillets from the fillets.

  • 7. Boil a large pot of water with plenty of water, and drain the fillets. （Add salt.)

  • 8. [Boiling (1)] Slice the fillet, whelk, and isozuri meat, sprinkle with salt, and boil them in boiling water. (Immerse the meat in boiling water, take it out of the pot, and immediately drain it in cold water.)

  • 9. [Boiling (2)] Season the liver, stomach, and intestines with salt and leave for 30 minutes.

  • 10. [Boiling (3)] Wrap the cod and milt in bamboo skin and boil them for about 60 minutes.

  • 11. [Boiling (4)] Boil the skin, upper and lower jaw, gills and gills, and raabutae, then take them into cold water and clean off the small scales from the skin and skull before they cool. (It takes a short time to boil the skin and gills, while it takes longer to boil the upper and lower jaw and skull because they are larger.)

  • 12. Cut each pre-processed fish into bite-size pieces.

  • 13. Arrange on a platter with seasonal vegetables.

  • 14. Top with yakumi (condiments), red grated radish and red pepper, and sanbaizu (or nihaizu) vinegar. Kabosu (kabosu) is good for the vinegar.

Recipe Arrangements

Seasonal vegetables include udo, spinach, cucumber, bean sprouts, tade, wakame, chimoto, myoga, ginger, etc.

provider : Oita's Local Cuisine for the Next Generation.

* Recipes vary depending on the region and home.