🍱 Taimeshi
The history of "tai meshi" dates back as far as the time of Empress Jingu's campaign in Korea. It is said to have originated when she prayed to the Kashima Myojin shrine in the Hojo district of Matsuyama City for victory in battle, and was pleased with the tai presented by the fishermen as a good omen, and cooked rice with the tai and offered it as an offering. The fish grown in the Kurushima Straits off the coast of Imabari City, located about 30 km east of this site, are caught in the fast currents of the straits, and their flesh is firm and resilient. In Imabari City and other areas in the Toyo region, the whole fish is cooked together with rice, and after cooking, the fish is broken up and mixed with the rice. The flavor of the fish soaks into the rice and combines with the elasticity of the fish meat to create a very tasty dish. In the Nanyo region, including Uwajima City and Seiyo City, raw fillets are marinated in a sauce made of soy sauce, mirin, egg, sesame, and soup stock, and the sauce is served over hot rice. The Nanyo area is close to Kyushu, and since long ago, fishermen have fished in the Hyuga Sea off the coast of Oita and Miyazaki prefectures. It is said that this dish was originally prepared by fishermen who could not use fire on their boats. Horse mackerel, which was often caught, was used in many cases, but the dish made with the flamboyant sea bream came to be called "taimeshi" (sea bream rice). Historically, in the Chuyo region, the type of tai-meshi with cooked sea bream, as symbolized in the Hojo area of Matsuyama City, was the mainstream, but today, influenced by both types of tai-meshi, there are stores that sell both types, and it is evident that people enjoy both types at home as well.