🍜 Tai-men (sea bream noodles)

Himejima is a remote island located in the western part of the Seto Inland Sea, and it's about 20 minutes away by ferry from Imi Port in Kunisaki City. According to the "Kojiki" (Records of Ancient Matters), The Birth of the Nation, Himejima is known to be the birthplace of "Izanagi no Mikoto" and "Izanami no Mikoto", who are both deities in Japanese mythology. The waters surrounding Himejima, which overlook the Suonada Sea, are an excellent fishing ground and are known to contain an abundance of seafood such as sea bream, octopus, prawns, and sea bass. One of the delicious local dishes of Himejima is called "Tai-men", which consists of udon noodles topped with a whole-cooked seabream. "Tai-men" is often served at wedding ceremonies as the seabream is a fish that never leaves its nest after mating, symbolizing the couple's long-lasting relationship. Furthermore, the long udon noodles used in "tai-men" signify the longevity of the relationship. It's worth noting that seabream are usually about 2 kg in weight, and the dish is also served at family meetings before the wedding ceremony.