Keeping Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki tradition aliveーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Now, Hiroshima Okonamyaki, a kind of savory pancake made of vegetables, seafood, and other ingredients heaped on a layer of dough, is a dish beloved by locals. But the number of okoniaki restaurants is dwindling as the aging owners retire. Nevertheless, there’s a symbol silver lining in efforts to preserve this food culture. A group of volunteers held a meeting in May to find ways to revive the flagging okonomiyaki business. 15 people including okonomiyaki restaurant owners took part. The theme of the meeting was the succession of okonomiyaki, the succession of people and the succession of taste. One participant recently closed her restaurant. She served up Okonomyaki for nearly six decades. For her, it was a labor of love to show appreciation to the community that supported her after she was orphaned at the age of four by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. But poor health frustrated her efforts to keep the customers happy. Toshko’s Okonomyaki was renowned for its low price and good taste. Many of her loyal customers were saddened by the closing. It was difficult to offer low prices at the end because of the rising prices of vegetables and other items. I think I was able to stop at the right time. This way of grilling is really delicious but very difficult. Even if we tried to imitate it, it wouldn’t work. Amid the loss of more and more restaurants, the meeting also highlighted successful cases of old establishments coming under new management. Tosski, a conference participant, has dedicated himself to okonomyaki. The old owner decided to close the restaurant that had been in business for about 35 years. I was a regular customer, but I wanted to keep alive the taste of this restaurant. So, I asked her if I could quit the restaurant. I was running and take over the okonomiyaki business. Kori, the former owner, closed the restaurant because of co Midori trained Toshki for a month on how to prepare okonomyaki before she shut her restaurant. He also took possession of the prized iron plate, the lifeblood of any okonomiyaki restaurant. He then converted his ery near Hiroshima station into an okonomyaki restaurant. And for the past four years, he has continued the celebrated flavor perfected by Midori. There are a few cases where an okonomiyaki restaurant is inherited by someone other than a family member. As long as Midori is alive, no matter what happens, I intend to keep going. I intend to continue. The new generation of restaurant managers sees a light of hope for Hiroshima’s Okonomyaki as they move confidently forward to keep the tasty tradition alive.
Hiroshima’s famed okonomiyaki is under threat as more establishments that serve up the beloved dish are closing as the owners retire. But a new generation of restaurateurs aims to keep the tasty tradition alive. #business #culture #food #lifestyle #hiroshima
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