Local Products
Here we describe some of Sado's special products and foods, from rare traditional crafts, ideal as souvenirs, to foods found only on Sado. You will also find useful hints for souvenirs.
Crops
Sado's koshihikari rice
"Sado koshihikari," one of Sado's best-known agricultural products, has now been established as a rice brand in its own right. High quality koshihikari is grown on the Kuninaka Plain, the grain belt in the center of Sado.
Okesa gaki (persimmon)
These sweet, juicy kaki, which were developed by improving the astringent haccin type of kaki, are a typical specialty of Sado. So soft that they seem almost to melt on the tongue, they also have no seeds. Kaki can be enjoyed in many different ways, as sawashi gaki, where the astringent juice has been removed by steeping the fruit in shochu (Japanese vodka) , dried, made into brandy or wine, or as sherbet.
Marine Products
Kaiso (seaweed)
Seaweed, nurtured by the stormy waves of the Japan Sea, brings the scent of spring to Sado. Many varieties of seaweed, including wakame (alaria) and iwanori (rock laver) , are harvested in the sea around the island. These are delicious in salads, miso soup and vinegar dishes, as well as sprinkled on freshly-boiled rice, soba (buckwheat noodles) or udon (thick wheat noodles) . Many different types of dried seaweed, which can be taken home as a gift for friends, are also available.
Igoneri
Egoso seaweed (similar to tokoroten or agar-agar) is boiled down to a paste and chopped up into thin "noodles." Soy sauce is then poured over, with chopped leeks and wasabi (Japanese horseradish) added for flavor. This light and simple delicacy, typical of Sado, brings you a whiff of the seashore.
Agodashi
Flying fish is first grilled and then dried to make this stock which is used in a wide range of dishes. Flying fish stock is also known as a high quality stock.
Midwinter kamasu (barracuda)
One of Sado's typical winter delicacies, it is at its best when the Japan Sea is rough and stormy. Fat winter kamasu can be enjoyed raw as sashimi and also cooked in various local dishes.
Kaki (oysters)
Sado's oysters, raised in Mano Bay and Kamo Lake, are small and scrumptious. They are a winter delicacy which can be appreciated in different ways : grilled in their shells, fried, or simmered in a nabe (stewpot) , for example.
Sado ika (cuttlefish)
While cuttlefish can be caught here all year round, it is the lights dotted about the sea to lure the fish on summer evenings which people associate with fishing for cuttlefish around Sado. Enjoy squid raw as sashimi, sliced thin into cuttlefish "noodles" (ikasomen) or as ichiyaboshi where they are salted and dried overnight.
Ebi (shrimps) and kani (crabs)
Shrimp and crab are among the best-known flavors of the season from autumn to winter when the Japan Sea is at its wildest. Red queen crabs are best eaten freshly boiled and the miso-like paste found inside their shells is in a class by itself. As for Nanban shrimps (Amaebi, i.e. sweet shrimp) , their thick, rich texture and sweet taste make them irresistible.
Others
Local sake
With its excellent rice and sweet water, conditions in Sado are ideal for making delicious sake. Sado's sake is clear and dry and has a clean, refreshing taste. During the Edo Period (1603-1868) there were as many as 200 sake breweries on the island. Even today, seven breweries carry on the tradition, so that Sado can still be said to be a "sake island."
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Sado miso is made by fermenting water, rice, soya beans and salt, all of the best quality, in barrels made of sugi (Japanese cedar) . A number of conditions including Sado's climate, which is perfect for yeast fermentation, and the tenacity of our craftsmen, combine to produce a rich, luxurious miso.
Sawane dango (dumplings)
Little dumplings which can be eaten in one bite, consisting of dough made from steamed glutinous rice around a smooth azuki bean paste filling. These sweet dumplings go well with Japanese tea.
Okesa ningyo (dolls)
Dolls woven from bamboo, according to the traditional Sado craft of bamboo weaving. The dolls, modelled on the women who dance to okesa folk songs, are popular as gifts.