What is "Su-no-moto"? Pitcher Roki Sasaki's Favorite Local Condiment [Iwate Prefecture]

Did you know that "Su no Moto," a super-local condiment indispensable to the dinner tables around Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, is gaining nationwide attention?

This time, we'll introduce Su no Moto, the taste of the hometown of baseball player Roki Sasaki, who hails from Iwate Prefecture, along with our impressions after actually trying it.

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What is vinegar base?

Vinegar base is a synthetic vinegar that is diluted four times and is a local seasoning sold by Mizuno Soy Sauce Shop in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

Its most distinctive feature is undoubtedly its intensely sour taste that wakes you up.
Locally, it's best used undiluted.

When poured over lean sashimi, it turns the flesh white

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The reason why vinegar base is in short supply

The taste of missing pitcher Roki Sasaki

The vinegar base was so popular that orders flooded in, and it became such a big hit that it was rare to find even in the local Iwate prefecture for a while

The reason for this is that in 2020, Chiba Lotte Marines pitcher Roki Sasaki, known as the Reiwa monster, answered "vinegar base" in a Q&A segment on the team's social media account to the question, "What flavor do you miss most when you come to the Kanto region?" Roki said, "Once you get used to this, regular vinegar just doesn't cut it."

Mizuno Shoyu Store, which manufactures the base for vinegar, operates a traditional, locally focused sales business, not even offering online ordering or publishing its phone number.
Despite this, it is said that they attracted so much attention that they were flooded with phone inquiries from all over the country.

With the perfect game achieved, the popularity of vinegar base has skyrocketed!

In April 2022, pitcher Roki Sasaki became the 16th pitcher in history to pitch a perfect game, the first in 28 years, and vinegar moto once again attracted attention

It was featured in various media outlets, including the Nippon Television morning information program "ZIP!" and TV Asahi's "Kaji Yarou," as pitcher Roki Sasaki's favorite seasoning, and its popularity skyrocketed

At Iwate Galaxy Plaza, an antenna shop for Iwate Prefecture in Ginza, Tokyo, the limited edition of 60 bottles was reportedly a huge success, with all 60 bottles sold out in about an hour and a half

A few months after the perfect game, vinegar base was out of stock in his hometown of Ofunato City, and it was difficult to get hold of it at any supermarket

When 300 bottles were sold in limited quantities at the "Golden Land Iwate - Ofunato Night Game" held at Zozo Marine Stadium in June 2022, it was so popular that Ofunato residents who had been invited to the game purchased the vinegar mix at the stadium

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The local way to use pitcher Roki Sasaki

Roki Sasaki's favorite way to eat crab is "dipping it in vinegar concentrate." Just like the residents of Ofunato, the home of vinegar concentrate, he dips it in the undiluted concentrate.

It is said that people who try vinegar concentrate for the first time choke because of its extreme sourness. Sasaki's way of eating it without diluting it is a local, connoisseur's way of enjoying it.

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Vinegar Base Review

In June 2022, when shortages continued even in Iwate Prefecture, I happened to come across a limited quantity on sale at a roadside station in the inland area of ​​southern Iwate Prefecture, not in my hometown of Ofunato, and I bought it without hesitation

The amber liquid visible from the bottle shows that it has a much stronger acidity than regular vinegar

When I opened the lid and brought it a little closer to my nose, I was hit with an intensely pungent smell! It was a sharp, piercing aroma.

I tried dipping dumplings in a sauce made by mixing the concentrated vinegar concentrate with soy sauce.

The moment I took a bite, I saw sparks flying! I
must have added a little too much, because I still felt a strange sensation on my tongue even after finishing. Beginners should be careful with the amount.

When I increased the proportion of soy sauce, the refreshing aroma became addictive and I was hooked. It seems like it will be a great ally for eating greasy food in a refreshing way. It's been

about 5 months since I bought it. Before I knew it, just like Roki, I've become the kind of person who can't get enough of regular vinegar. I use it in dishes like sweet and sour pork and sweet and sour sauce, and now it's an indispensable part of my meals.

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Other flavors from pitcher Roki Sasaki's hometown

Pitcher Roki Sasaki also said he misses the taste of "Menko-chan Jelly," and that he has never actually tried "Wankosoba" or "Morioka Reimen." This may be something that Iwate residents who live outside the Morioka area can relate to

The flavors we miss when we are away from home are the foods of our hometown that were a regular part of our daily meals

What flavors do you miss?

Roki Sasaki's hometown specialty, vinegar concentrate, is a condiment with an intensely sour and refreshing taste that's addictive.
You should definitely try it sometime!

Mizuno Soy Sauce Store <Information>

• Manufacturer: Mizuno Soy Sauce Store
• Address: 8-16 Morimachikimachi, Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture

Google Map

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