🍱 Hokki meshi

Soma City has long been active in rice production. Even today, varieties such as Koshihikari and Hitomebore are produced, and the city is said to have the largest amount of shipments among the city's agricultural products (according to the Soma City website). In addition, Hokki-gai (shellfish) are often caught mainly in Matsukawaura, the only lagoon in Fukushima Prefecture. Fishing for hokki-gai has been conducted in the waters off Soma and Futaba since the Meiji era (1868-1912), and the area has long been known as a famous producer of hokki-gai. The mineral-rich seawater off the coast of Soma and Futaba influences the growth of hokki-gai, allowing them to be caught relatively large, with a sweet taste and soft texture. A local dish made by combining these two specialties is "hokkimeshi. The rice absorbs the broth from the hokki-gai and becomes rich in umami.