2026年10月– date –
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Why Is Hokkaido Famous for Hokke? The Story Behind Japan’s Northern Grilled Fish
Why Is Hokkaido Famous for Hokke?The Short Answer Hokke—known in English as arabesque greenling—lives around almost all of Hokkaido, and the island dominates Japan’s domestic catch. Hokkaido Research Organization reports that Hokkaido ac... -
Why Is There a Giant Crab Claw in Mombetsu? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s 12-Meter Seaside Sculpture
Why Is There a Giant Crab Claw in Mombetsu?The Short Answer Mombetsu’s Giant Crab Claw was created in 1983 for a project called the Drift Ice Art Festival. Sculptor Toshi Nagasaki, Hisao Kuwabara of the Mombetsu Chamber of Commerce and I... -
Why Does Wakkanai Have a Roman-Looking Breakwater? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Northern Port Dome
Why Does Wakkanai Have a Roman-Looking Breakwater?The Short Answer The Wakkanai Port North Breakwater Dome was built from 1931 to 1936 to protect people, railways, and cargo from the powerful wind and waves that swept over Wakkanai Port.... -
Why Is Haboro Famous for Sweet Shrimp? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Amaebi Town
Why Is Haboro Famous for Sweet Shrimp? The Short Answer Haboro is one of Japan’s leading landing areas for sweet shrimp because it sits close to Musashi Bank, a rich offshore fishing ground in the northern Sea of Japan. Haboro Town descr... -
Why Is Shizunai’s Cherry Blossom Avenue Called “Nijukken Road”? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s 7-Kilometer Sakura Road
Why Is Shizunai’s Cherry Blossom Avenue Called “Nijukken Road”?The Short Answer “Nijukken” means 20 ken, an old Japanese unit of length. The road was about 20 ken—or roughly 36 meters—wide, which gave it its name. The road was built insi... -
Why Is Ishikari Nabe Made with Salmon and Miso? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Fishermen’s Hot Pot
Why Is Ishikari Nabe Made with Salmon and Miso? The Short Answer Ishikari Nabe was born in Ishikari, at the mouth of the Ishikari River, where salmon fishing had long been an important part of local life. Fishermen cooked fresh salmon pi... -
Why Is Bibai Yakitori Made with So Many Chicken Parts? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Coal-Mining Soul Food
Why Is Bibai Yakitori Made with So Many Chicken Parts?The Short Answer Bibai Yakitori developed in the early-to-mid 1950s in Bibai, a city that was booming with coal miners. A classic motsu skewer combines different chicken parts—includi... -
Why Is Mikuni Pass Called “Three Provinces Pass”? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Highest National Highway Pass
Why is Mikuni Pass called “Three Provinces Pass”?The Short Answer Mikuni Pass takes its name from the historical borders of Ishikari, Tokachi, and Kitami, three former provinces of Hokkaido. At 1,139 meters above sea level, it is also th... -
Why Is Nemuro Famous for Escalope? The Story Behind Hokkaido’s Unique Pork Cutlet Rice
Why Is Nemuro Famous for Escalope?The Short Answer Escalope was created in 1963 at a Nemuro coffee shop called Mont Blanc. Inspired by a dish called escaloppini served in Tokyo, it evolved into a local one-plate meal of thin pork cutlet,... -
Why Is Indian Curry So Loved in Obihiro? The Story Behind Tokachi’s Soul Food
Why Is Indian Curry So Loved in Obihiro?The Short Answer Because in Obihiro, Indian Curry is not special-occasion food. It has been part of everyday life since 1968, offering familiar Japanese-style curry at an affordable price. Today, l...
