KITAKATA, Fukushima -- A committee in Kitakata has developed a new type of ramen using local ingredients aimed at foreign tourists. Its aim is to increase awareness about the traditions and culture of the city and attract more foreign visitors.
　The ramen will be served in three shops in Kitakata, including Ajian Shokudo ramen shop, starting in mid-February.

　喜多方市は、インバウンド（訪日客）向けに地場産品をふんだんに使った新しい喜多方ラーメンを開発した。同商品を通じて喜多方の伝統や文化を国内外に発信し、外国人観光客らの誘客促進を図る。２月中旬から同市の「あじ庵食堂」など市内の３店舗で提供を始める。

　Aiming to raise the profile of Kitakata ramen overseas, the Kitakata　ramen rebranding project promotion committee began developing a new Kitakata ramen in October. The panel comprises parties such as the Kitakata municipal government, ramen shops in the city and a noodle-making cooperative association. With the cooperation of Ajian Shokudo, the committee successfully developed a new ramen that appeals to the tastes of foreign tourists and retains the characteristics of Kitakata ramen such as high-water content and curly noodles.

　海外向けに喜多方ラーメンの知名度を上げようと、市や市内のラーメン店、製麺業組合などで構成する「喜多方ラーメンリブランディング事業推進委員会」が昨年１０月に開発を開始した。あじ庵食堂の協力を得て、多加水縮れ麺といった喜多方ラーメンの特徴は残しつつ、外国人観光客に好まれる喜多方ラーメンを開発した。

　The new ramen was named "Sugoi," a word often used by foreigners as it is an easy-to-use adjective. The noodles are specially made only from domestically produced wheat, including that from Fukushima Prefecture. The ramen is topped with ingredients including Fukushima Aizu beef that was produced in the city and matured with locally produced koji rice malt. Sugoi ramen is served in bowls made with lacquerware produced in the city.

　開発したラーメンは、外国人にとって使い勝手のいい形容詞として好んで使われる「ＳＵＧＯＩ（すごい）」と名付けた。麺は県産小麦を含む国産１００％の特製中華麺で、市産の「ふくしま会津牛」を地元産こうじで熟成させた具材がトッピングされている。丼は市産の漆器を使った。

　The committee also developed an "Omakase" set consisting of Sugoi ramen, wonton, a bowl of rice topped with chicken giblets and eggs, and Aizu mead produced by a local sake brewery.
　The ramen recipe will be shared with about 90 shops and restaurants offering Kitakata ramen in the city to increase the number of shops offering Sugoi ramen.

　「ＳＵＧＯＩ」にワンタンと鳥もつ親子丼、地元酒蔵で生産された会津ミード酒などがセットになったお膳「ＯＭＡＫＡＳＥ（おまかせ）」も開発した。
　市は市内で喜多方ラーメンを提供する約９０店舗を対象に開発レシピを共有し、順次、提供店舗を増やす。

　Hideyasu Ebana, the owner of Ajian Shokudo, said, "I hope that foreign tourists will not only enjoy Kitakata ramen but also visit other ramen shops in the prefecture so that they can experience the food culture unique to each area."
　The Sugoi ramen costs 3,000 yen while the Omakase set is 5,000, yen with both including souvenir ramen chopsticks. Farm-to-table restaurant Shiokawaya and the main shop of Kitakata Ramen Raimu will offer specially arranged "Sugoi" ramen dishes.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　あじ庵食堂の店主江花秀安さんは「外国人観光客には喜多方ラーメンだけでなく、県内のラーメン店なども巡ってもらい、土地ごとの食文化を感じてほしい」と話した。価格はいずれも土産用のラーメン箸付きでＳＵＧＯＩが３０００円、ＯＭＡＫＡＳＥが５０００円。農家レストラン塩川屋と喜多方ラーメン来夢本店では独自にアレンジを加えた商品を提供する。

　【　２０２４年１月６日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】