Rice and rice products
- “The largest traditional rice-growing area in Japan”
- Back in the 18th century, Niigata was home to five out of every nine wealthy farmers and it remains the top rice producer nationwide.
- “The land that gave birth to an ancestor of numerous rice”
- Niigata’s “Norin No. 1” came out in 1931, alongside other varieties, later to spawn “Koshihikari” as the representative rice of Japan among several modern varieties. Nowadays, the range even includes diverse strains for curry and risotto.
- “Various products made from rice”
- Niigata is also famous for rice crackers, mochi, sake and other food of rice origin. At 60%, its proportion of rice crackers shipped is the largest in Japan.
Sake
- “A historical sake brewing area”
- As well as rice production, Niigata is home to more historical sake breweries than anywhere else. 76 out of 88 such breweries are over a century old and the oldest brewery went into operation 470 years ago. Sake varieties brewed in Niigata are known as “Niigata Seishu”.
- “Secrets of deliciousness”
- Niigata’s cold winter and melted snow, together with the artisanal mastery of its sake brewers, help achieve sake brewing perfection and a clear dry taste known as “Tanrei-Karakuchi”.
- “Pairing brings out the flavor of dishes”
- The fruity flavor of Niigata’s sake goes ideally with various dishes, particularly oysters and other seafoods.
Processed food
- “A leading seafood paste production area”
- Boiled fish paste in Niigata was first made at the end of the Edo era and is now produced on a larger scale, including as Japanese hotpot ingredients for winter. Niigata ships more seafood paste products by value than anywhere else in Japan.
- “Food specially preserved and fermented unique to the cold and snowy region”
- Pungent seasoning, fermented and ripened and combining chili pepper, miso, and malted rice, makes steak and pizza tastier than ever. Another popular and traditional technique for preserving and fermenting is “Snow Aging”, using a snow cavern.
- “Processed food using special Niigata fruit”
- Processed food including “Le Lectier” pears and “Echigo-hime” strawberries are also popular and go perfectly with yogurt and wine when dried.
Contact
- JETRO Niigata
- e-mail: NIG@jetro.go.jp
