koutagawa
(January 2, 2022) One of the New Year's delights, the Hakone Ekiden 1st section saw Chuo University's Kyohei Nakai setting a new course record with a 40-second lead over 2nd place Komazawa University after 15 years, followed by Komazawa University's Taiki Tasawa in the 2nd section with a performance that ranks 4th in history, giving a lead of 1 minute and 3 seconds to Aoyama Gakuin University. The race started off with many dramatic moments... Aoyama Gakuin University, starting from 5th place in the 1st section, managed to maintain the lead from the 3rd section and secured a 2 minute and 37-second lead over 2nd place Teikyo University, winning the first half of the race.
After the race, I decided to have a late lunch at "BAKURO", a yakiniku restaurant owned by Oizaki Ranch in Kagoshima. Although it is about a 4-minute walk from Yakuin Station or Yakuin-Odori Station, the restaurant is not very noticeable with a large signboard, tucked away on a back street parallel to the Jounan Line. However, as expected from the wooden sliding door, the interior is elegantly designed, offering spacious counter seats and table seats resembling private rooms.
All the meat served here is black wagyu raised on their own ranch. The lunch menu is relatively affordable, offering sets such as the Wagyu Sampler Set, Lean Meat Set, Special Selection Set, BAKURO Set, Harami Set, Premium Set, Negi Shio Tan Set, Hormone Sampler Set, Black Pork Kalbi Set, and Black Wagyu Hamburg Set. Most of these items can be upgraded to 1.5 times the amount of meat. I decided to try the Harami Set with 1.5 times the meat.
With the confidence of being directly sourced from the ranch, the Harami is served with a salt seasoning without being marinated in sauce, and the dipping sauce is light. The hormone, possibly the small intestine, is generously fatty and tender, coated with a slightly thick sauce, making it delicious with rice. Lastly, another dish named "Agotan" was served, which turned out to be a cut from behind the tongue that melts like fat when grilled, known as "tansagari" or "tansuji". Despite entering just 2 minutes before the lunch service ended, the staff welcomed me warmly without any sign of annoyance, for which I am grateful.