On Thursday, September 22, the "Dosanko Specialty Products PR Dojo Supported by Domingo" was held to commemorate the Hokkaido Tournament of the JT Professional Shogi Japan Series / TableMark Children's Tournament. The event became a hot topic with the appearance of Ryuo Sota Fujii and 9-dan Yoshiharu Habu. What kind of local specialties from across Hokkaido were presented to these two shogi masters at the venue? Here's a complete introduction!

1. Kitami City's "Tama-koro"

Kitami City boasts the largest onion production in Japan! "Tama-koro" is a local croquette that stars Kitami's specialty onions, made without potatoes or cream. It's seasoned with mayonnaise and tuna. The sweet and juicy flavor is so addictive, you'll be hooked after just one bite.

This delicacy has won the grand prize twice at the "National Croquette Festival," a competition to determine Japan's best local croquette. Be sure to give it a try.

2. Tomakomai City's "Tomakomai Curry Ramen"

From Tomakomai City, we introduce "Tomakomai Curry Ramen," a beloved soul food of the city! Curry ramen was born in 1965 at "Aji no Daio" in Tomakomai. It features a rich, thick soup that perfectly matches umami and spice, created by blending a rich pork bone-based broth with a curry paste made from over a dozen spices and fruits.

Today, you can enjoy various unique versions of "Tomakomai Curry Ramen" at many restaurants throughout the city. In 2022, it was certified as a "100-Year Food" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and its popularity continues to grow! Be sure to savor "Tomakomai Curry Ramen" in Tomakomai.

3. Sapporo City's "Sapporo Sweets"

From Sapporo City, we present "Sapporo Sweets." The Sweets Kingdom Sapporo Promotion Council has been holding the "Sapporo Sweets Competition," where professional pastry chefs create original works based on ideas from Sapporo citizens, adding their own unique flair and techniques. The winning creation becomes the face of "Sapporo Sweets" for the year. The "Sapporo Rare Cheese Cafe" was the grand prize winner for 2020 & 2021.

It features a delightful combination of rare cheesecake, coffee mousse, and the crisp texture of apples! Indulge in a moment of bliss with "Sapporo Sweets," made with a commitment to using Hokkaido-sourced ingredients whenever possible.

4. Asahikawa City's "Shio Horumon"

From Asahikawa City, we introduce Shio Horumon (salted offal), said to have originated here! While horumon is typically beef offal eaten with miso or soy sauce-based marinades, the standard in Asahikawa is to season pork offal with salt. The city is home to many horumon specialty shops, and it's an essential dish for backyard barbecues.

At home, it's also used in stir-fried vegetables and yakisoba, making it a perfect side dish for rice or a snack with drinks. Rich in vitamins, horumon is famous as a stamina-boosting food, making it an ideal choice for a "shogi meshi" (shogi player's meal). Be sure to try Asahikawa's soul food, "Shio Horumon."

5. Obihiro City's "Butadon"

From Obihiro City, we introduce the local gourmet dish of Tokachi/Obihiro, "Butadon" (pork bowl)! It was created in the early Showa era at a diner in Obihiro, born from the desire to provide a stamina-boosting meal for hardworking people. It is loved for its sweet and savory sauce, which varies by restaurant, different grilling methods, and pork so tender it can be cut with chopsticks.

It's a quick and easy meal, packed with pork rich in vitamin B1, which is essential for brain energy. This makes it a perfect "kachi-meshi" (winning meal)!

6. Kushiro City's "Tsubu"

With the desire to revitalize Kushiro through whelk (tsubu), the "#946Tsubuyakitai" brand-building project for "Kushiro-produced tsubu" was launched. How about trying "Tsubu-yaki" (grilled whelk), a popular late-night snack in the Suehiro district, or the "Tsubu Cream Croquette" (whelk cream croquette), supervised by the chef of a French restaurant in Minami-Aoyama owned by Chef Sakai, famous from the TV show "Iron Chef"?

Whelk is rich in taurine, which is said to activate liver function, making it essential for recharging your body's energy for a healthy daily life.

7. Hakodate City's "Sumaho Asaichi"

From Hakodate City, we introduce the "Sumaho Asaichi" (Smartphone Morning Market), where you can easily buy carefully selected products from the morning market, a food wonderland where all sorts of culinary delights, including seafood, gather! The Sumaho Asaichi is a service that connects shops wanting to sell selected products from morning markets and other markets with customers who want to buy them.

It's packed with great finds, including products and menus handpicked by local market owners, as well as limited-edition items and special menus recommended by the staff! It's a great way to rediscover the culinary charms of Hakodate.