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History of “OKONOMIYAKI”, Hiroshima locals’ signature food

Okonomiyaki, which the tourists who visit Hiroshima cannot leave without eating, is actually a food that is deeply related to the reconstruction after World War II.


Hiroshima Okonomiyaki



Relationship with the U.S.

There had been a serious food shortage during the war in Japan. And after the war, food supplies were provided by the U.S. government as a part of the food relief program. In the aid, lots of flour were included, especially.

Therefore, people started to cook flour with water to bake thin batter, with which cabbages and bean sprouts that were cheap and easily available were eaten together.

We can tell that it took a while for okonomiyaki to reach to the current style, called “Niku-tama-soba”. (niku: pork, tama: egg, soba: Chinese noodle, all contained)


Easily cooked atop a hot teppan plate!

At the time in Hiroshima, there were many industries that resourced iron, such as the munitions industry; therefore, that time in the situation not rich in things in Japan, it was reasonable that people started to cook on the teppan plate made of iron that were relatively easy to obtain.

Since people used a part of their living house for okonomiyaki shop in many cases that time, their teppan plates were small and they offered okonomiyaki in a half-folded form instead of current shape in round.


The shops naming "(some name)-chan”

You will see many of the shops’ name that are called “(name) -chan”.

“-chan” is mostly attached for girls’/ladies’ nicknames; it is such like “my dear (name)” or "my sweet (name)" in English.

Can you guess why?

Here’s a story.

Many men were sent off to the war during WWII, and the wives left at home had to earn money to keep their daily lives; in that situation, many women started to cook okonomiyaki and sell them at home, which is also said to be the origin of many okonomiyaki shop in Hiroshima.

The women named the shop after their own name, so that their husbands can find their family when they return to Hiroshima, where the houses were blown, the land was scorched, and many people had to move out.

Summary

Okonomiyaki, which history grown up in the times after the war, is still the signature food that gives power to the people in Hiroshima.

Many of those who visit Hiroshima eat okonomiyaki for lunch, but locals often eat it for dinner, as well. They go to their favorite small shop, watch the baseball games there, while enjoying drinking and teppan foods such as vegetables and seafoods, and finish with okonomiyaki. This is the way that locals enjoy okonomiyaki.

Once you come visit Hiroshima, you will be one of the locals! Don’t hesitate to join in!


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