🍱 Kappodori

Takachiho Town in Miyazaki Prefecture is known as a town of myths and legends. In this region, bamboo is called “kappo.” In the past, bamboo was used as a vessel to boil water and hold tea in between farm work, and also as a water bottle. It is said that its name comes from the sound it makes, “kappo-kappo,” when pouring water into it. Kappodori is a dish that uses kappo (bamboo) as a bowl and has been eaten since ancient times in Takachiho, where bamboo is abundant. A part between the bamboo joints is hollowed out and stuffed with seasoned chicken or vegetables. The hollowed-out part is put on like a lid and the entire bamboo is put over the heat. The ingredients are steamed inside the bamboo, allowing the heat to pass through slowly. The scent and extract (oil) from the bamboo are added as well, creating a mellow and unique taste. It is also a dish where you can enjoy the flavor of bamboo, so for the bamboo used as the bowl, it is said that one-year-old young green bamboo, which produces more extract, is good for this dish. Other than using a bamboo vessel and adding chicken, there are no rules in particular, and the ingredients and seasoning are up to the person making this dish.