"Human Gourmet Entry: Surprisingly Delicious Restaurants" (Chukyo TV/Nippon TV Network, Tuesdays at 7 PM) is a variety show that introduces "surprising restaurants" that defy imagination. On June Getsuku , the show featured its annual segment of searching for restaurants with cherry blossoms in front of them, traveling north across the Japanese archipelago along with the cherry blossom front. This year, three staff members divided the work and researched restaurants. Starting in Okinawa in mid-January, they traveled a total distance of 4,390 kilometers over approximately four months.
◇ Kochi
A teppanyaki restaurant in Konan City reportedly had a cherry tree there even before the restaurant opened. Their signature dish, "Nira Shio Yakisoba" (900 yen), is made with specially ordered medium-thick noodles, stir-fried with domestic pork belly, vegetables, and three bunches of locally grown chives. The owner boasts that the chives are effective in relieving fatigue, but what is the taste like?
◇Aichi
In Ichinomiya City, I discovered a steak restaurant with a cherry blossom tree on its premises. Their recommended dish is the "Grilled Beef Set Meal" (1900 yen), which uses 140 grams of domestic beef ribeye. A unique feature is that you can challenge yourself with riddles and luck-based games when ordering or paying; success may earn you a complimentary dessert or a discount on your bill.
◇Kanagawa
"They bloom every year and bring us joy," says the restaurant owner in Miura City, who cherishes the cherry blossoms. Their specialty, "Katayaki Soba (Large Portion)" (1850 yen), consists of two portions of deep-fried, curly thin noodles topped with a generous amount of pork belly and locally grown vegetables in a thick sauce. The total weight exceeds 2 kilograms.
◇Kagoshima
In Kagoshima City, you can enjoy cherry blossoms from the terrace of a restaurant. The recommended dish is the "Katsudon" (pork cutlet rice bowl) (1550 yen), which is enough for three people and weighs over 1.1 kg in total. Natural water is used in the cooking process, and the "Nagashi Somen" (flowing noodles) (680 yen) is also popular. And there was one more facility that they were proud of.
◇Niigata
I spotted a beautiful Somei Yoshino cherry tree in full bloom at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Joetsu City. Mountain cherry trees were also visible from the tatami room. The restaurant's specialty dish is the "Ageage Don" (2750 yen), a bowl of seven kinds of tempura including conger eel and shrimp. The presentation had a distinctly "Ageage" (exciting/lively) quality.
◇Aomori
I visited a sweets stall in Gappo Park in Aomori City that I had been to before. The tower-sized strawberry parfait, which had about 30 strawberries and stood about 30 centimeters tall two years ago, had been surprisingly upgraded.
◇ Hokkaido
This chicken restaurant is located in Obihiro City. Their "Boneless Zangi Set Meal" (1650 yen), which contains 25 pieces of zangi (fried chicken), is made juicy by marinating chicken breast in a secret sauce for 30 minutes and then frying it twice. They have a private room where you can look out at a cherry tree, and they use a nostalgic item when you order.
The show's MC is entertainer Hiromi, and the host is Eiji Kotoge of the comedy trio "Viking". Guests include comedian Gekidan Hitori, Kenjiro Yamashita from the popular group "Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS", and Kanami Tsujino and Hitoka Sakai from " Cho Tokimeki Sendenbu ".
