🍚 Saba no Bo Sushi/ Mackerel Stick Sushi

"Saba Stick Sushi" is a traditional local dish that is a staple during festivals. In addition to "Saury Stick Sushi," there are many other sushi dishes using mackerel, such as grilled mackerel sushi, whole mackerel sushi, and pickled mackerel sushi. The reason for the abundance of mackerel-based dishes is that mackerel is readily available in the Kohoku and Kosei regions. There has been a historical route for transporting seafood caught in Wakasa Bay to Kyoto, passing through the Kosei region. This route, known as the "Mackerel Highway," is lined with many manufacturing and retail shops. In Nagahama, mackerel, herring, and salmon can be obtained from Tsuruga Bay. "Saury Stick Sushi" is an indispensable dish for the float festivals in Otsu and Nagahama. In Shiga Prefecture, various rice varieties are cultivated, including "Koshihikari," "Mizukagami," "Aki no Uta," "Kinuhikari," and "Nihonbare." Among them, "Koshihikari" and "Mizukagami" were rated as the highest rank, "Special A," in the 2019 rice taste ranking by the Japan Grain Inspection Association. "Mizukagami" is a variety developed by Shiga Prefecture, known for its glossy appearance, moderate stickiness, sweetness, and the unique feature of remaining delicious even when cooled.