🍱 Mizuika no madajiru

The giant cuttlefish is another name for the bluefin squid, which is a relatively large squid with a body length of 40 centimeters. Because of its translucent appearance, it is often called "mizu-ika" in Kagoshima Prefecture. The Nansei Islands, to which the southern part of the Kagoshima mainland and the Amami Islands belong, are the main fishing grounds in Japan. Eging is a typical squid fishing technique, coined by combining the English progressive form of "ing" with "egi," and is said to have originated on Amami Oshima Island. It is said that the method was introduced to the Satsuma clan via Tanegashima Island in the mid-Edo period (1603-1868), indicating that squid fishing has been popular in the Amami area since ancient times. Even today, squid fishing is possible throughout the year, and anglers come from outside the prefecture to fish for squid. A typical Amami local dish using squid is "mada-jiru" (squid soup). Mada" means "ink bag," and it has long been believed to lower blood pressure and nervousness in the Amami region, and many people used to buy it as a medicine. Drinking miso soup with squid meat and sumi ink is unique to the Amami region, and "mada soup with squid" is popular among many people because of its mild sweetness and richness.