If you're not from Hokkaido, the term "agekamaboko" may not ring a bell. It's a deep-fried fish paste food called "satsumaage" or "tempura" in some regions. This time, we'll introduce you to a long-established store selling this type of deep-fried kamaboko. Otaru's "Kamaei" is a familiar brand to Hokkaido residents. Founded in 1905, it is now sold not only in Otaru stores, but also in department stores in Sapporo and at New Chitose Airport. Kamaei carries about 70 different products. The ingredients are mainly fish caught in nearby waters, and are made without any preservatives, so they are safe and secure. On the other hand, they don't last very long, so you need to be careful. Also, we don't recommend freezing them, as the flavor will deteriorate. Furthermore, there are some products such as chikuwa and kamaboko that can be vacuum-packed and shipped to other areas, but most of the fried kamaboko introduced here can only be kept refrigerated for about three days, so they cannot be shipped to other areas. This means that you can only eat them if you go directly to a place that sells them. Kamaei, located right in front of the Otaru Canal, is a direct sales shop where you can see skilled craftsmen making the fish by hand. The fish cakes are shaped and steamed in this factory, then shipped to each store, where they are fried and sold. Let's take a look at some of these carefully made fried fish cakes. The most popular item is the Hiraten (194 yen including tax). Apparently, around 10,000 are made in this factory every day. The perfect snack is the "Miso Nanban" (172 yen including tax). This is also a very popular item. The "Wiener Roll" (237 yen including tax), which is only available at this Otaru factory outlet, is also very popular with children! This "Pan Dome" (237 yen including tax) is also a popular product that can only be purchased here. If you visit Otaru, why not stop by the factory shop in between sightseeing and buy some? Kamaei's fried kamaboko is not shipped outside of Hokkaido, so you can experience the true Hokkaido flavor for yourself. <Kamae Factory Direct Store> Location: 3-7 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido Phone: 0134-25-5802 Official website: https://www.kamaei.co.jp