[Akita] Cod is the star! Winter “Kakeo Festival” where you can enjoy lots of cod

Winter is a delicious season for hotpot. In Japan, where there are four seasons, ingredients are in season for each season, and it is common to eat seasonal ingredients cooked in a way that suits the season.
In winter, vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and long onions are in season, as well as many fatty fish.

Typical winter-season fish include alfonsino, monkfish, pufferfish, and yellowtail. Sandfish, which is said to be synonymous with Akita Prefecture, is also in season in winter. Cod, which is caught in large quantities from Hokkaido to Tohoku, is another fish that is in season in winter

In Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, there is a festival for cod, which is an essential part of hotpot. The Kakeyo Festival, a cod festival that is a must-see in the winter, is a festival worth paying attention to not only for its traditional Akita culture but also for its delicious taste. There are also tie-in events held, so it is a festival that will satisfy even cod lovers

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A festival featuring cod, a typical winter food of Tohoku?

Akita Prefecture is the fifth largest prefecture in Japan in terms of cod catch.
Cod is a typical winter fish, but it is also a typical fish caught in Tohoku. Of course, it is also caught in other regions, but since Hokkaido and the Tohoku region dominate the top catch, it is not wrong to say that "cod = Tohoku's winter fish."

Of course, winter in Akita wouldn't begin without cod, and it is often used as an ingredient in shottsuru, a traditional Akita dish

Of course, cod is also an essential ingredient in hot pot dishes, which are a staple in winter in Japan. Supermarkets are lined with rows of cod fillets like the one in the picture. When you see this scene at the grocery store, you really feel that "Ah, it's winter."

There is a festival in Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture, where cod plays a central role.
It's called the Kakeyo Festival!
Cod is offered to the shrine and people feast on it. It's truly a festival where you can enjoy cod to the fullest.

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What kind of festival is the Kakeuo Festival?

The area where Nikaho City's Hanging Fish Festival is held was formerly known as Konoura Town before the merger of municipalities. Fishing has been a thriving industry in Konoura Town since ancient times, and large quantities of Akita's signature fish, sandfish and cod, were caught there. The Hanging Fish Festival has been held for 300 years, and is a festival in which fish are offered to Konourayama Shrine, located close to the fishing port, to pray for a bountiful catch and safe fishing. It is held every year on February 4th, the beginning of spring

The main event of the festival is a procession through the snow, in which boat owners and fishermen carry cod weighing over 10 kilograms.
Nikaho City is covered in pure white snow during this time of year. The sight of the large cod being carried on the shoulders of the fishermen is truly impressive. The cod is so large that you can hear people watching the procession exclaim, "It looks delicious!", and it is truly magnificent.

After the procession through the area, the cod is offered at the shrine. The offering ceremony includes traditional performing arts such as shrine maiden dances, lion dances, and "Kannoura Kagura," an intangible folk cultural property designated by Nikaho City.
In the park next to the shrine, dishes such as cod soup are served, and local specialties are also sold. It is a very lively festival where you can feel the history of the fishing port.

INFORMATION

name	Nikaho City Tourist Information
Official URL	http://www.nikaho-kanko.jp/sight/event.html

INFORMATION

name	Seishi Park Square
location	Kanaura Kamibayashi, Nikaho City, Akita Prefecture
GOOGLE MAP

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There's also a tie-up project where you can eat a whole lot of cod

In conjunction with the festival, Nikaho City also holds tie-in events. Restaurants in town line up dishes using cod, which is in season. This has been held every year during the festival period until 2017

The Hanging Fish Festival is known locally as the "Cod Festival." It is truly a festival and campaign to eat your fill of cod, which is in season in winter. Enjoy the famous cod and sake while watching the light snow fall in Akita's winter

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lastly

Among the many fish-related festivals in Japan, the Kakeuo Festival (Cod Festival) is a festival that focuses on cod. With cod-related events held in collaboration with the local Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, it is a winter festival that delights the palate. Not only can you enjoy the food, but you can also feel the solemnity of the traditional event of offering fish to a historic shrine

It's an interesting winter festival. If you come to Akita, be sure to take in the unique winter atmosphere