[Yamagata Prefecture] Is Yamagata the secret to surviving the hot summer? Let's take a closer look at Yamagata's "chilled culture".

No matter how much you try, have you given up because the summer heat keeps coming back every year?

Is there anyone who wants to do something about the summer heat, or at least make their surroundings cooler?

Yamagata Prefecture has long had a ``hiyashi culture'' that cannot be seen in other prefectures.I want to imitate this summer.Yamagata's "chilled culture"I would like to introduce you to

How hot is Yamagata Prefecture?

Nowadays, prefectures such as Saitama and Gunma are known for their hot summers.There is a local city that once set a record for the highest temperature in Japan, and the temperature remained unchanged for 74 years.

it isYamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture。

40.8℃ recorded on July 25, 1930It is said thatThat record remained unbroken for 74 years.(The current highest temperature in Japan is 41.1℃ in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture on August 17, 2020, and Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture on July 23, 2018.)

Yamagata Prefecture is hot! Many people in Tohoku have this image from their childhood, and even though it is no longer the hottest region in Japan, they still have the impression that it is a hot region.

``If it's hot, just cool it down! ? ” What is the beginning of chilled culture?

Something cold on a hot day...

This is a natural thing to do, and it is also a trick to stay cool.

Eating shaved ice, wiping your body with a cold towel, and going to the pool or beach are all ways to cool down.

However, when it is unusually hot like in Yamagata Prefecture, a little bit of coolness is meaningless. Cooling various things to survive the heat in Yamagata Prefecture "Chilled culture"was born.

I started cooling shampoo.

I have gained citizenship in the last 10 to 20 years."Chilled shampoo" originates from Yamagata Prefecture.

Late 1990,"Men's Hairism" located in Yamagata City, Yamagata PrefectureAt a shop calledSummer limited servicewas born as.

at first"Cool Shampoo"It is called,Service that uses shampoo chilled in the refrigeratorIt seems that it was. This service was very popular in the hot Yamagata prefecture, and the service that cools shampoo quickly became popular. Not only will it cool you down, but using a menthol-based shampoo will also keep you feeling cool.

After that, chilled shampoo spread to the Tohoku region, and now the number of shops selling chilled shampoo is increasing all over Japan. In fact, if you wash your hair with a cooling shampoo, your surroundings will feel cooler for several hours after shampooing.

Special cooling shampoos are also available.Currently used in approximately 300 stores in Yamagata PrefectureIt seems that it has been done.

What is Yamagata Prefecture's chilled culture?

In addition to cooling shampoo, Yamagata Prefecture has a deep-rooted culture of cooling.

The reason for this is that food that is normally eaten hot can be enjoyed even in the summer if it is cooled, but could it be considered as a way of living to survive the heat? Everything is served "chilled".

chilled ramen

Chilled ramen actually originated from Yamagata Prefecture.。

“You just made the ramen cold! ” If you think so, please come to Yamagata Prefecture and try the chilled ramen.

If you just chill it, the fat will float, and worst of all, the noodles will stretch.

Both the soup and noodles are piping hot, and depending on the restaurant, you can enjoy chilled ramen with ice floating on top of it to make it even cooler.

When many people think of chilled noodles, they think of hiyashi chuka, but just like regular ramen, it has a soup and usually has a soy sauce flavor. It's great to be able to drink all the soup on a hot day.

Chilled meat soba

If you have cold ramen, you can also try cold meat soba!I can understand why you think so.

A local soba that is loved by Yamagata residents."Meat soba"too"Chilled meat soba"It is sold during the summer and is best eaten on a hot day.

Cold meat soba is served all over the prefecture.The refreshing soup stock, soba noodles, and meat go well together, making it easy to eat even when you don't have an appetite.。

The meat in Niku Soba is chicken, which makes it addictive because it's not greasy.

rice with water

You might be surprised when you hear just the name.

"Mizukake Gohan" is a local dish of Yamagata Prefecture, also known as "Mizumama".is.

Pour cold water over rice and eat with pickles.

Yamagata Prefecture has long been known as a hot region, and in the days when refrigerators were not widely available, rice cooked in the morning would spoil in the heat, so there was no choice but to wash it before eating. .

I get bored with pickles alone, so I mix them with summer vegetables that have a high water content, such as cucumbers and eggplants, chopped green perilla, ginger, and other aromatic vegetables, and then eat them together with dashi (dashi ) .

It's easy to prepare and easy to eat, making it a great combination for when it's hot and you don't feel like cooking .

vinegar pool

"Vinegar pool"teeth"Sudamariko"This is a unique way to eat shaved ice.

A specialty of the Yamabe area, it is shaved ice topped with syrup and vinegared soy sauce (sudarari).

It may be a surprising combination, butThe aftertaste is more refreshing than regular shaved ice.This makes it easier to feel the coolness during the hot summer months.

You can eat it at restaurants in the Yamabe area, so please go to Yamabe Town and try it.

summary

It can be said to be a unique culture of Yamagata Prefecture."chilled culture"Introduced.

The ``chilling culture'' can be considered as the wisdom of daily life to make the hot summer easier.

Some of them are widespread all over the country, while others can only be tasted within Yamagata Prefecture, so it's a good idea to enjoy Yamagata's cool chilled culture while experiencing the heat.

This summer, why not try a new kind of “chilled” experience?

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