LOVE Sanuki's report

67th Oiri

One of the major projects of Yoshimoto, "A project to live in your town", to make Japan feel good from the area. Entertainer "Kaji Tsuyoshi" who lives in Kagawa reports on local products.

reporter

KAJI Tsuyoshi

NSC Osaka school 22nd grade
2005 Formed "Katsuyama Kaji" with Moody Katsuyama
2008 ABC Comedy Newcomer Grand Prix Newcomer Award
2010 Active as a pin entertainer
Birthplace: Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture Born March 1981, 3

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"Oiri" is a traditional sweet from the western part of Kagawa prefecture.
It is said to be a happy sweet because it is distributed to the neighborhood when the bride is married.
I came to Yamashita Oiri Honpo, a store specializing in Oiri in Mitoyo City.

"Oiri" is one of the wedding tools

"Wow, it's a beautiful color."
Kaji is fascinated by the "Oiri" dyed in pink, yellow, yellow-green, light blue and colorful colors.
"In the western part of Kagawa prefecture, it has been customary for a bride to bring" Oiri "to her neighbors when she gets married. It is one of the indispensable wedding tools for marriage," says Oiri Yamashita. Mr. Yamashita of the main office taught me.
"It's called" happy sweets "because it divides happiness into the neighborhood," Kaji says.
Mr. Yamashita has been making "Oiri" since he was 19 years old, and has been making Oiri for 60 years.It's a delicate sweet, and even if you make it every day, the result is different and it's a "daily research".I was allowed to observe the place where it is being made.
It is important to spend time and effort because it is a simple material

The ingredients for "Oiri" are simple: "glutinous rice," "syrup," and "sugar."
First, put steamed glutinous rice in a stone mill and stick it with a pestle to make mochi.
The stretched rice cakes are dried in the sun on sunny days and indoors on rainy days.
When the mochi is dry, cut it into 5mm square diced pieces.Kaji was surprised at the details.
“The key to making a beautiful“ oiri ”is to remove the shape that is out of shape at this time and keep it the same size,” says Yamashita.I learned that beautiful "Oiri" with a uniform grain is created by spending time and effort.
"It's amazing that Oiri is made from squares even though it's round," says Kaji.
"This corner will be removed and rounded. This is also because it is said to be a happy sweet."
"Oiri" with "Oiri" roasted on fire and "Oiri" with a bride

Roast the diced mochi on the fire.
The roasting time depends on how dry it is, but it takes about 1 minute.Mr. Yamashita concentrates on the kettle so as not to burn it.
"It is said that the name" Oiri "was made by combining the" Oiri "roasted with fire and the" Oiri "of the bride," said Mr. Yamashita.
The mochi taken out of the kettle is swelling and looks like a pearl.
Finally the finishing color.
Color the "Oiri" while turning it so that there is no unevenness.Elegant sweetness and a slight scent of Nikki have also been added.
"Oiri" is originally in 5 colors, but Mr. Yamashita has colored it in 7 rainbow colors in hopes of his wife's happiness.
"It is said that when the oiri is beautiful, the bride is also beautiful. This custom is spreading all over the country. It is now used for various events as well as for marriage."
Mr. Yamashita told me that he wants to make it beautiful so that people who meet "Oiri" for the first time will be impressed.
I want you to eat "Oiri" and remember your hometown

After observing how to make it, Kaji tasted "Oiri".Mr. Yamashita taught me how to eat Kagawa style by putting several grains in the mouth at once.
"Fluffy melts in your mouth," says Kaji.After melting in the mouth, a slight sweetness spreads.
Mr. Yamashita has been devising as an Oiri specialty store to make sweets unique to the local area that are not found in Japan.
It has become known nationwide in magazines and television, and orders are coming from outside Kagawa Prefecture.It is talked about that it will look good on Instagram for the younger generation, such as applying soft serve ice cream.
"I want you to eat" Oiri "and remember your hometown," says Yamashita.He smiled and told me that he would like to continue to make it with all his heart.
“Mr. Yamashita's“ Oiri ”will spread happiness,” said Kaji, who was warmed by Mr. Yamashita's thoughts.