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

Even if you try various measures, have you given up and thought that nothing you do is worth the summer heat that keeps getting worse every year?

Are there any of you who want to do something about the summer heat, or at least find a way to make the area around you cooler?

Yamagata Prefecture has long had a "chilled culture" that is not found in other prefecturesI want to try this this summerYamagata's "chilled culture"We will introduce you to the following

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How hot is Yamagata Prefecture?

Nowadays, Saitama Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture are known as hot areas in the summer,There is a local city that once recorded the highest temperature in Japan, and it remained there for 74 years

it isYamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture。

A temperature of 40.8°C was recorded on July 25, 1933It is said thatThe record stood for 74 years(The current highest temperatures in Japan were recorded on August 17, 2020 in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and on July 23, 2018 in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, both of which recorded 41.1°C.)

Many people in Tohoku have had the image of Yamagata Prefecture being hot since childhood, and even though it is no longer the hottest region in Japan, they still have the impression that it is a hot region

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"If it's hot, why not just cool it down?" The origins of chilled food culture

Something cold on a hot day..

This is a natural thing to do, and it's also a way to stay cool

Eating shaved ice, wiping your body with a cold towel, or going to the pool or the beach are some ways to feel cool

However, in the case of the extraordinary heat of Yamagata Prefecture, a little cooling is meaningless"Chilled Culture"was born

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I started using chilled shampoo

I have gained citizenship in the last 10 to 20 years"Cold shampoo" originated in Yamagata Prefecture

Late 1990,Men's Hair Rhythm in Yamagata City, Yamagata PrefectureIn the shop,Summer-only servicewas born as

Initially"Cool Shampoo"It is calledService using shampoo chilled in the refrigeratorIt was a very popular service in the hot Yamagata prefecture, and the shampoo cooling service spread like wildfire. It not only makes the shampoo cooler, but also uses a menthol-based shampoo, which keeps the cool feeling for a long time

After that, chilled shampoo spread to the Tohoku region, and now there are more and more shops selling chilled shampoo all over Japan. If you have your hair washed with chilled shampoo, you will feel that the surroundings are cooler for several hours after shampooing

A specially designed chilled shampoo is also availableCurrently used in approximately 300 stores in Yamagata PrefectureIt seems that this is the case

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Yamagata Prefecture's chilled food culture

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

The reason for this is that foods that are normally eaten hot can be enjoyed chilled in the summer, but perhaps it's a way of beating the heat? Everything is served "chilled."

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chilled ramen

Cold ramen actually originated in Yamagata Prefecture。

If you think, "It's just ramen that's been made cold!", then come to Yamagata Prefecture and try some chilled ramen

If you just chill it, the fat will float to the top and, most importantly, the noodles will become soggy

The soup and noodles are cold, and some restaurants even add ice to make the ramen even cooler

When people think of chilled noodles, many imagine chilled Chinese noodles, but like regular ramen, they have soup, usually soy sauce flavored. Being able to drink the soup all up is great on a hot day

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Chilled Meat Soba

If there's cold ramen, I'd also like to try cold meat soba!It's understandable that you think that

This is a local soba dish loved by the people of Yamagata Prefecture"Meat soba"too"Cold Meat Soba"It is sold in the summer as a snack and is perfect to eat on a hot day

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

The meat in Niku Soba is chicken, so it's not too heavy, which is why it's so addictive

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Watered rice

You might be surprised just by hearing the name

"Mizukake Gohan" is a local dish from Yamagata Prefecture, also known as "Mizu Mama."is.

Pour cold water over the rice and eat it with pickles

Yamagata Prefecture has long been known as a hot region, and in the days before refrigerators were widespread, rice cooked in the morning would spoil in the heat, so it was considered wise to wash it before eating it

I eat summer vegetables with a lot of water, such as cucumbers and eggplants, mixed with chopped aromatic vegetables like green shiso and myoga ginger, and seasoned with dashi

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

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vinegar pool

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"Vinegar Pool"teeth"Sudden ice"This is a unique way of eating shaved ice, also known as "shaved ice."

A local specialty of the Yamabe area, it is shaved ice topped with syrup and vinegared soy sauce (su-damari)

This may be a surprising combination,It has a more refreshing aftertaste than regular shaved iceThis makes it even easier to feel the coolness during the hot summer months

You can eat it at restaurants in the Yamabe area, so be sure to visit Yamabe Town and try it

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summary

It can be said to be a unique culture of Yamagata Prefecture"Chilled culture"We introduced the following

The "cooling culture" can be considered a form of wisdom in daily life that makes it easier to endure the hot summer

Some are popular throughout the country, while others can only be enjoyed in Yamagata Prefecture, so it's a great way to experience the cool culture of Yamagata while experiencing its heat

Why not try a new way to cool down this summer?

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