![Why Kotobuki Oyster, a brand name oyster that heralds spring in the town of Kotobuki, is so delicious.|Domingo](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fe8d01b7612ad56f98e3c56344ccf69b5.jpg)
EDITORIALS
Why Kotobuki Oyster, a brand name oyster that heralds spring in the town of Kotobuki, is so delicious.
Located in a large bay, the port town of Sutsu Town, Hokkaido, Japan. In this issue, we will introduce Kotobuki oysters, the pride of the town! We will also introduce the reason why they are so tasty, and the convenient "Kotobuki MAP" for purchasing oysters in the town. We also asked a store owner to tell us more about the oysters.
Kotobuki Oyster, the pride of Kotobuki City, is available only in spring!
Spring in Kotobuki is full of delicious seafood such as konago (young sardines) and sakura-masu (cherry salmon). Among all the seafood, we must not forget the brand name "Kotobuki Oyster". Kotobuki oysters are usually available from late April to August, which is almost the opposite of the season for oysters, which are generally associated with winter.
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fa72c198f9db8d41b7676c11a80cb6797.jpg)
The true oyster is in its spawning season in the summer, so its meat is thin after spawning. Kotobuki oysters, on the other hand, store nutrients from summer to winter, and are at their peak of deliciousness from spring to summer.
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fe8d01b7612ad56f98e3c56344ccf69b5.jpg)
The secret to its delicious taste is "melted snow water.
Why are Kotobuki oysters so tasty in spring, unlike other oysters? The secret is "melted snow water. Every spring, melted snow from the mountains flows into the Shuta River that runs through the town.
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fbc81ab66fc6e2adc30262a1b7a14848e.jpg)
The minerals abundantly contained in this melted snow water are a source of nutrients for plankton, which are essential for oysters to grow. The excellent oyster that grows by eating plenty of plankton full of nutrients multiplied by minerals is the Kotobuki oyster.
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fc56de5ec24695e9571a2cdade949941a.jpg)
Check out where you can buy "Kotobuki" oysters!
In search of Kotobuki oysters, I went to the town of Kotobuki! But where can you buy them? In such a case, "Jukaki MAP", a list of 10 stores in the town that sell Jukaki, is useful. The Jukaki MAP is available at the roadside station "Minatomare Jutto" in Juto-cho and other places.
![寿かきMAP](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2F8c31861268f4c66897b39d4173dc0e03.jpg)
Freshness is excellent! Family Shop Yonezawa
We interviewed Mr. Tetsu Yonezawa, the third-generation owner of Family Shop Yonezawa, a family-run business that has been in business for more than 60 years.
![米澤哲さん](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2F1d09e653b548b4d597b86602b9b1184c.jpg)
This year, we were worried about the lack of melted snow, but we were surprised to find that the catch was more than we had expected! We have fresh Kotobuki oysters ranging from 2-year old "small" to 5-year old "extra large" waiting for you!
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2F5854c3fb06c21cc95bcba9b2ba9a0e71.jpg)
When I asked to open a "extra large" Kotobuki oyster to try it, I was surprised to see a large, shiny, and plump piece of meat! Kotobuki oysters are described as having a light, unctuous flavor. When you bite into a raw oyster, the more you chew, the more the flavor and sweetness spreads in your mouth. ...... This is a must-try item at the local restaurant.
![寿かき](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2Fbdb33580cd81744a489ef11307861e6f.jpg)
Mr. Yonezawa works with the town of Atsugishi-cho, the oyster capital of the east, and during the Kotobuki oyster closed season, he purchases brand oysters from Atsugishi, such as "Kaki-emon" and "Maruemon," to supplement each other's marine products. In addition, they promote the charms of Kotobuki through drone photography and YouTube distribution, so please check them out as well.
![ファミリーショップよねざわ](https://p1-634a4370.imageflux.jp/w=768,f=webp:auto,q=78/https%3A%2F%2Fdomingo.ne.jp%2Fwp%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2F022e0baf8d1029f9d28309bae5765422.jpg)
Why not take a drive to Sutsu Town to try the miraculous "Kotobuki Oyster," which can only be enjoyed from late April to August?
Family Shop Yonezawa
Location: 5757 Watashimacho, Suto-cho, Suto-gun, Hokkaido
Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in winter)
Closed: 2nd and 4th Sundays (every Sunday in winter)
Facebook: yonezawashow10
Twitter: yonezawashow10
■YouTube channel of Yonezawa Shoten in Kotomachi: @yonezawasho10
Writer Profile
Daisuke Sato, Editorial Writer
After working for a travel agency, round-the-world travel agency, and travel magazine, he made a U-turn to his hometown Muroran. Currently, under the name of BROCKEN, he works with creators from around the country on a wide range of projects, including magazine and website planning and editing, logo design, and video production.