Hiratsuka mentaiko (extra spicy) for 1080 yen. Hiratsuka mentaiko seems to have a lot of fans among celebrities, especially I heard that Yujiro Ishihara used to order it often. Recently, I bought some at the airport shop and found it really delicious, like it's on the same wavelength as me. So I did a little research. I bought the extra spicy one without much thought at the airport shop this time. It is indeed quite spicy. And the flavor is strong. I think everyone has their own favorite mentaiko, but for me, it's definitely Hiratsuka mentaiko. Delicious!

Now it's time for medium spicy following the super spicy. Although it's considered medium spicy, it's actually spicier than the regular mentaiko you would normally eat, but it has a sharp spiciness. Of course, it's perfect as a side dish for sake, but it's also amazing when placed on top of warm rice and eaten while breaking it apart. The sweetness of the rice enhances the spiciness of the mentaiko, and the spiciness of the mentaiko enhances the sweetness of the rice. It's truly a synergy effect! It might be too spicy for children. There is also a mild version available, so maybe that's more suitable for children... I'm not sure, haha. However, I think what makes Hiratsuka Mentaiko unique is the spicy or super spicy versions. It seems that you can also order online, so I definitely want to place an order soon. I finally met the mentaiko that I had been curious about for a while. When you're in the Kanto region, mentaiko typically means Hakata!! Hakata Mentaiko!!! That was the common knowledge since I was a child... but I learned that there is also mentaiko as a specialty product in Kitakyushu!! I wonder when I found out about this... It's said that the spiciness from red chili peppers is strong... even the beloved Yujiro Ishihara was a fan of this mentaiko... So, this time, I decided that if I go to Kyushu for work, I will definitely bring this as a souvenir! The name of this mentaiko is Hiratsuka Mentaiko. However, I wondered where I should buy it... Since this business trip used the JR Kyushu Kagoshima Main Line and JR Kyushu Nippo Main Line starting from Kokura Station... The chance to purchase it would be either at JR Kokura Station when passing through on the way home or... While having lunch, I searched the web on my smartphone... I hope there is a direct store... Oh!! There it is!!! I found it!! I will buy it here!! I got off at the station for the first time and wandered around the town. There is no experience as exciting as exploring a new town. The destination was Hiratsuka Mentaiko Direct Kokura Store. When I looked at Google Maps, it seemed that it was located on the 1st floor of the Mainichi Shimbun Nishibu Branch building. Is there some kind of event being prepared in the town? I could see that a temporary venue was being set up. Now, it's about a 7-minute walk after getting off the station. When I arrived at the store and entered, two female staff members greeted me. The refrigerated showcase displayed the products, with different levels of spiciness including super spicy, spicy, medium spicy, and mild. Of course, there were also value sets available. Actually, I prefer the irregularly shaped value sets rather than the regular ones. I like the handmade feel, you know. So, for personal use, I chose the smallest size of the super spicy value set (which will be bottled for delivery), and for souvenirs for business partners, I chose the medium spicy and mild value sets. I was asked if the value sets were okay for customers, and I said it was fine. Due to the quantity, I opted for cool delivery instead of taking them home. Now, it will take two days for the bottled super spicy mentaiko to arrive in Kanagawa Prefecture from Kyushu. I tried the super spicy mentaiko that had arrived. The pickling liquid looked really spicy. First, I tried it as it is. Ohh, the spiciness has a kick, followed by the umami. This is it, spicy food has to be spicy! A half-hearted spiciness won't do. I've been waiting for this kind of mentaiko! I placed it on top of warm rice and into my mouth! Wow, blissful! The spiciness of the mentaiko harmonizes with the sweetness of the white rice! However, it's not so spicy that you'll break a sweat, so please rest assured. Hiratsuka Mentaiko, perfect for both sake and rice. Highly recommended!!

I received a souvenir. It's like the famous mentaiko in Kokura. It comes in 5 levels of spiciness: ・Super Spicy ・Spicy ・Medium Spicy ・Mild Medium Spicy ・Sweet and Spicy I tried the Medium Spicy one, and it has just the right amount of spiciness and a deep flavor. Mmm, delicious!