The video captures a visit to Quitacata, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, where traditional Japanese rice farming is showcased. The process involves a blessing at a temple, manual rice planting, and a glimpse into the significance of rice in Japanese cuisine. The experience includes tasting freshly planted rice, visiting a soy sauce factory with a detailed fermentation process, and enjoying a meal at Izakaya Cagota. The trip also features horse sashimi, fish dishes, and a traditional bowl with duck meat. The importance of authentic Japanese rice and soy sauce is emphasized, with recommendations for places to experience them in Mexico. The video provides insights into the cultural and culinary richness of Japan.
1. The speaker is in the city of Quitacata, Fukushima Prefecture, where they are shown the traditional planting process of Japanese rice by Mr. Nita.
2. The rice is a basic and indispensable food in the Japanese diet and is often included in every Japanese meal, regardless of whether it is a hot or cold dish.
3. The rice plantation is located near the Tohoku region and is within a pleasant climate despite being in Japan.
4. The speaker is shown how to manually plant rice, taking five stems from a rice plant and introducing them into the soil.
5. The speaker is also shown how to sow rice in a field, taking care not to step on the already planted area.
6. The speaker learns about the importance of blessing the rice before planting, as it is believed to ensure a good harvest.
7. The speaker is shown a traditional Japanese meal, including rice, egg, and cucumber.
8. The speaker discovers that the Japanese rice consumed in Mexico is not actually from Japan, but is from California in the United States.
9. The speaker visits a restaurant in Mexico City run by a Japanese woman who has been living in Mexico for more than 50 years. The restaurant serves dishes made with authentic Japanese rice.
10. The speaker is taught the difference between the rice that is produced in California and the authentic Japanese rice.
11. The speaker learns about the production of authentic Japanese rice, which is naturally grown using rice and water from the same area.
12. The speaker is shown a traditional Japanese space in the city of Guacamatsu, which is open to the public.
13. The speaker is invited to a dinner at a Japanese restaurant in the city, where they try authentic Japanese serve.
14. The speaker is served horse sashimi at the restaurant, which they find to have a flavor similar to raw beef.
15. The speaker learns about the traditional way of drinking serve, which involves emptying it into vessels before drinking.
16. The speaker is served two dishes with nichin, a fish very similar to sardine, at the restaurant.
17. The speaker learns that the serve can be enjoyed hot, which intensifies its flavor.
18. The speaker is served a main course of simple pork chops in the pan at the restaurant.
19. The speaker is served a traditional bowl with a bed of rice, duck meat, and Japanese mushrooms at the restaurant.
20. Soy sauce is a fundamental ingredient in Japanese cooking, and the speaker learns about the process of making artisanal soy sauce at the facilities of the Shiba Numa brand.