Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store will be holding an event to promote the appeal of Kagawa Prefecture's specialty ingredients, "Udon Prefecture, But That's Not All Kagawa Prefecture," at the Food Collection on the first basement floor of the main building. The event will run from May 7th to 13th.
In 2011, Kagawa Prefecture became a hot topic with the catchphrase "Kagawa Prefecture has been renamed 'Udon Prefecture'" and the actor Jun Kaname's big PR campaign to become the governor of Udon Prefecture, and the official Kagawa tourism website was eventually renamed "Udon Prefecture Travel Net." While Kagawa is strongly associated with udon, this time the event will also feature a selection of Kagawa's specialty ingredients, including olive oil from Shodoshima, which is grown in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea, and local fish from the Seto Inland Sea. The lineup includes ingredients that capture the Seto Inland Sea's climate and natural features, such as "Ryokuka Shibori" olive oil (180g/1,800 yen) from Inoue Seikoen, which has a refreshing taste reminiscent of green apples and just the right amount of bitterness and spiciness; "Kodai Mochi" (7 pieces/1,000 yen) from Maruza, made with brown rice grown without pesticides; and "Sanuki Olive Beef Loin Steak" (2,200 yen per 100g), which is raised on olives grown on Shodoshima and mixed with the olives. Also available at the venue are "Strawberry Gelato" (307 yen per piece), made with luxurious "Sanukihime" and "Nyoho" strawberries from Kagawa; and freshly boiled "Bukkake Udon" (300 yen) from Hinode Noodle Factory, a popular restaurant founded in 1930 that is known for having long queues.
Other stalls scheduled to open include udon noodle shop "Moriya Honkaku Teuchi," somen noodles "Shimazen," prepared food shop "Anera," bone-in chicken "Sanukitori Honpo," Ibuki dried sardines "Tokai-ya," Shohachi noodles "Shodoshima Shohachi-ya," and olive beef bento "Sanuki Shokudo."
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Setonaikai National Park being designated Japan's first national park, and to commemorate this, various events are being held throughout Kagawa Prefecture to promote the attractions of the scenery, food, culture, history, and more.
