🍱 Joshu Kimpira (Stir-fried Carrot Burdock Root)

In 1983, the 38th National Athletic Meet “Akagi National Athletic Meet” was held in Gunma Prefecture. This was a memorable event for Gunma, as the prefecture declared itself “Sports Prefecture Gunma" and it was the first time that “Gunma-chan” appeared as the mascot. Joshu Kimpira, or stir-fried carrot and burdock root, was invented especially for the event as a new local dish featuring Gunma's famous local products such as pork, shiitake mushrooms, konjac, and so on. One of the characteristics of this dish is to thickly cut the burdock root, which is commonly used in kimpira. This is said to be reminiscent of the magnificent three famous mountains of Jomo. Depending on the region, different variations of the dish may include the addition of chicken, green peppers, freeze-dried tofu, and fried satsuma-age fish cakes, but in any case, it makes abundant use of Gunma's local products and has become a firm favorite on the dinner table of families throughout the prefecture.