🍲 Kashiwa no Hikizuri (Chiken Hot Pot)

Kashiwa (chicken meat) has been a favorite dish in Aichi Prefecture. Poultry farming in Aichi Prefecture began in the late Edo period (1603-1868), and developed into the famous "Nagoya Cochin" in the early Meiji period (1868-1912). Poultry farming has continued to flourish until the present day. The reason for this is said to be the abundance of wild birds in the Satoyama areas of Aichi. For this reason, many chicken dishes are prepared in Aichi. In addition to chicken wings, yakitori, and mizutaki, a sukiyaki dish called "Kashiwa no hikizuri (dragging)," which is made from chicken meat and is rare in Japan, is a typical example. There are various theories as to the origin of the name "Kashiwa-no-higizuri (dragging)" One theory is that the skin of the chicken meat did not cut well with old kitchen knives because they were not sharp enough, and when one tried to lift a piece, it dragged on and stuck to the skin. The second theory is that the chicken meat was cooked in a sukiyaki pot by dragging it along. Another theory is that it is because in the old days, when young men in the village stole chickens from other families, they brought them back home by dragging them behind their backs while hiding them.