Bungoono City

Flour, brown sugar

Oita Prefecture is known for its high consumption of chicken, but flour-based food culture is also deeply rooted in the lives of its people. Since Oita Prefecture had a well-developed plateau, much of the land in the prefecture was unsuitable for rice cultivation, but over a long period of time, waterways were built throughout the prefecture. Eventually, cereal cultivation in fields became popular. Most of the harvested wheat is ground into local flour. “Yaseuma", for example, which is made from local flour, is still very popular among people of all ages. “Jiriyaki”, a traditional dish in Bungo-Ohno City, is also a product of the flour-based food culture. It is made of local flour dissolved in water, baked thinly like a crepe, and rolled with finely crushed brown sugar or pumpkin paste. It is easy to prepare and because of its simple and familiar flavor, it is widely popular not only in Bungo-Ohno City, but also in Oita Prefecture. Some say the name comes from the word "jirii" (meaning "loose" in the Oita dialect), while others say it comes from the fact that the dough is baked slowly (onomatopoeia “jiri jiri”). There are different names for this dish, such as "Hekoyaki” in Hita City, "Hiyaki” or "Taratarayaki” in other regions.

In the past, it was eaten on a daily basis as a snack for children and as a side dish for adults during farm work. In the days when brown sugar was precious, some families ate "yudemochi" (boiled dough filled with sweetened red bean paste) or "ishigaki mochi" (steamed dough mixed with sweet potatoes) instead of "jiriyaki". Although there are not as many opportunities to eat these foods as there used to be, it is not uncommon for parents to make them for their children even today.

In the past, the dough was made from ground flour, water, and salt, but now eggs are added to make it fluffy. The dough can also be made more fluffy by adding rice flour, or less sweetened with a little sugar and wrapped with yuzu miso (soybean paste). In recent years, some recipes have added jam, marmalade, fresh cream, etc. to the batter.

Bungo Ono City has been working to include it in school lunch menus, as well as to provide information and learning opportunities. They are also sold at local supermarkets and direct sales outlets.