🍚 Tako Meshi (Octopus rice)
Hyogo Prefecture boasts the second largest catch of octopus in Japan and the largest catch of common octopus in Japan. The Harimanada octopus, which is landed on Awaji Island and between Kobe and Ako, is at its peak from June to August. During this period, the octopus is tossed by the tidal currents of the Akashi Strait, and its flesh becomes more elastic as it stores nutrients in preparation for spawning, resulting in its characteristic texture and sweet taste. Records indicate that the common octopus fishery in the Seto Inland Sea was already well known in the Edo period (1603-1867), and "Tako-meshi" (octopus rice) was made after fishing as a rice dish that did not require much preparation time. Today, it has become a popular home-style dish, and there are octopus dishes made with raw octopus, boiled octopus, and dried octopus. It is also sold as ekiben (lunch box), a specialty of the prefecture.