As I wrote in Tsuhakan on August 3, in Esashi, as August approaches, preparations for the "Ubakami Oogami Shrine Procession Festival" are in full swing. On this day, the main members of the committee gather in the morning to set up the base office (referred to as the office opening). However, this year, our float (Yama) was stored in the "Esashi Yama Float Hall," so we were able to decorate the float without much effort (as the decorations were mostly usable as they were), making it easier than last year. Every year, on the night of the base office opening, committee members participating in the festival, those who help out, children in charge of the festival music, neighbors, and neighbors who have returned home for the festival gather for a "rally" to celebrate the assistance leading up to this day and to boost morale for the upcoming festival period. The "rally" is always accompanied by "Genghis Khan," and this time we will be relying on "Sasanami Butcher Shop" in the town for that. In addition to Genghis Khan, we will be getting beer from a local liquor store with a keg and server, soft drinks for those under 20 and non-drinkers from a nearby supermarket, and of course, Genghis Khan goes best with white rice, which we were able to get from a neighbor in a large 2.5-gallon jar. We set up a stove and pot, but the Genghis Khan pot provided by this shop has a clever design, with U-shaped protrusions welded on the side of the pot. When these protrusions are fitted onto the trivet, the pot does not slip or fall off during cooking, making it easy to enjoy Genghis Khan. The party begins. Outdoor Genghis Khan, combined with the high tension of the approaching festival, really gets the party going. Genghis Khan, beer, and white rice alone are a winning combination, guaranteed to liven things up. By the way, when I shared some old stories here, it got a great reaction. Of course, we enjoyed the Genghis Khan on rice thoroughly. Genghis Khan really gives energy to gatherings like this. Thanks to it, I feel revitalized!

In September 2013, it was the last night market of the year. I had to try the croquettes. The lady was frying them up quickly. They looked so delicious that I couldn't resist getting some myself. And they were indeed tasty. In May 2013, the shopping street near Hokke-ji Temple turned into a pedestrian paradise with food stalls set up. You could get various foods for 300 or 400 yen, so it was bustling with kids. Especially in front of Sasanami Seiniku-ten, there was a long line, with kids aiming for the 100 yen fried potatoes. When there was a bit of a lull, I also lined up and bought some croquettes. They were freshly fried right in front of the store, crispy on the outside, big, and slightly gooey inside, very delicious. I've never thought croquettes from a butcher shop would be so good, but these were tasty. It seems like they put effort into their side dishes regularly, with special deals on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays for items like fried chicken, roast pork, hamburgers, croquettes, etc. The store itself has an old charm and the food has great flavor.

Our third stop on February 2, 2020, was Sasarame Butcher Shop. Their "Horumon Nabe" (offal hot pot) is a contender for the N-1 (Nabe One) Grand Prix at the Esashi "Delicious Rainbow" Nabe Festival. As a fan of offal dishes, I was delighted to try it. While they also offered croquettes, I decided to resist and save room for other hot pot dishes at different booths. I look forward to trying them at the Esashi Night Market in the spring. The Horumon Nabe in white miso broth was surprisingly light, with a perfect balance of the offal's umami and tender texture. It paired excellently with the Guild Endeavor Stout. It was truly delicious! The food tour at the Esashi "Delicious Rainbow" Nabe Festival continues.

Continuing from my visit earlier, I went to Sasanami Butcher Shop this time. This shop specializes in fried foods, offering items such as jumbo croquettes, minced meat cutlets, fried chicken skewers, shrimp cutlets, french fries, and tornado potatoes. I decided to try the minced meat cutlet and tornado potato, which seemed like a good match for beer. I bought some yakitori and beer from another shop and enjoyed them at a table provided at the venue. The minced meat cutlet was juicy and delicious, while the tornado potato had a fluffy texture, likely made from a mealy potato variety. Both were easy to eat on skewers and went well with the beer. I also paired them with yakitori purchased from a different booth in Hondori Shopping Street, making it a satisfying beer experience. Such events are so much fun! (to be continued)