YOMIURI SHIMBUN (Tokyo, Japan) 29 November 09 Iwate / Town woos women with turtle hot pot
Women in Nishi-Wagamachi are waxing lyrical over a newly created nabe hot pot dish that they claim helps keep them trim while also having antiaging benefits.
The new dish, yukihada suppin nabe, makes use of the town's renowned soft-shelled turtles that contain plenty of collagen and are low in fat.
It has been quickly taken up by eight of the town's ryokan. There also are claims that the new dish blesses consumers with pristine, snow-white skin.
The new dish was created by Genki na Nishi-Wagamachi Nettowaku (Active Nishi-Wagamachi Network), comprising such organizations as the town government and the town's commerce and industry association.
Since the 1990s, the local government has utilized the town's abundant onsen resources and bred soft-shelled turtles. Suppon turtles are considered to have nutritional effects, and are particular popular among middle-aged and elderly men. However, the turtles also have been growing in popularity among females in the region.
This spurred the network to ask Tsunao Kato, chairman of the prefecture's chef association, to create a new dish utilizing suppon turtles that women would like.
The suppon soup features genpidama (weight-reducing balls), comprising soft-shelled turtle meat wrapped in yam, and tetsutori dama (iron-absorbing balls), which aid iron absorption iron and utilize vitamin B12-packed lotus roots. The soup also contains numerous vegetables and is rich in collagen.
The town has a diverse variety of onsen hot springs, including Suna Yuko, a sand bath where guests are buried up to their necks in sand warmed by hot springs and which is said to help to accelerate one's metabolism. Consuming yui purin (yui pudding) made from a local tofu shop's soy milk also is said to benefit consumers.
An official of the network said, "A person's skin will be improved both inside and outside in Nishi-Wagamachi."
In principle, one must be an overnight guest at one of the ryokan to enjoy suppon nabe.
However, Hotel Tairyukaku, Ikkyukan, Hotto Habu Kinshu, Mantaka, and Honkan Shunzanso, Suehiro, offer a single-day course starting from 4,000 yen, including entry to each ryokan's bath.
Lodging also is necessary in Yoshinoya and Yamado. Reservations are required at all the above establishments.
For more information, contact the network at (0197) 82-3284
Town woos women with turtle hot pot