{"id":367487,"date":"2025-12-05T19:37:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T10:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kochike.jp\/?post_type=column&p=367487"},"modified":"2025-12-05T19:39:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T10:39:39","slug":"kochi-street-food-delight-try-handmade-fish-cakes-at-matsuoka-kamaboko","status":"publish","type":"column","link":"https:\/\/kochike.jp\/en\/column\/367487\/","title":{"rendered":"Kochi Street Food Delight: Try Handmade Fish Cakes at Matsuoka Kamaboko Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kochi is a quiet paradise for nerimono<\/em>\u2014fried fish cakes and steamed kamaboko made from fresh minced fish. These comforting bites are a big part of the local dining culture, loved by families for generations.<\/p>\r\n

Walk through Ohashidori Shopping Street<\/em> in central Kochi, and a warm, savory aroma will gently pull you in. Follow that smell, and you\u2019ll find Matsuoka Kamaboko<\/strong>, a family-run shop that has been part of the neighborhood since the late 1960s. Locals drop by one after another, shopping bags in hand, just like a daily ritual.<\/p>\r\n

A Display That Makes You Want to Try Everything<\/h3>\r\n

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Inside the glass display case, more than 60 types<\/strong> of fish cakes are packed tightly together\u2014each one golden and full of character.<\/p>\r\n

You\u2019ll find classics like jakoten<\/em> and gobo jakoten<\/em>. But the real charm comes from items with nostalgic local names, such as Curry Dango<\/strong>, Shiro Dango<\/strong>, and Oranda<\/strong> (a Japanese name that literally means Holland<\/em>).<\/p>\r\n

Why is it called Holland<\/em> in Japanese?
\r\nNo one really knows. It\u2019s simply what locals in Kochi have called it for generations. The fish cake is mixed with green peas and bits of boiled egg, and the playful name has become part of the region\u2019s food culture.<\/p>\r\n

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Handmade with Care, Just Like the Old Days<\/h3>\r\n

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What makes Matsuoka special is its gentle, natural taste.
\r\nTheir fish cakes are never too sweet, and they don\u2019t rely on strong seasonings\u2014just the clean flavor of fish.<\/p>\r\n

Lightly grill a slice and add a drop of soy sauce, and it becomes the perfect snack with drinks.
\r\nEat it warm, and the fluffy texture of the fish comes back to life. It\u2019s no surprise that many visitors buy a bunch to take home as souvenirs.<\/p>\r\n

A New Year Favorite: \u201cTosa Jiro Egg Daimaru\u201d<\/h3>\r\n

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One of the shop\u2019s most beloved items is the Tosa Jiro Egg Daimaru<\/strong>.
\r\nInside this celebratory roll are three whole boiled eggs<\/strong> from Tosa Jiro, Kochi\u2019s famous local chicken. Pink and pale green fish paste wraps around them, creating a beautiful pattern when sliced.<\/p>\r\n

For many locals, \u201cNew Year doesn\u2019t start without Matsuoka\u2019s Daimaru.\u201d
\r\nIt\u2019s known as a winter tradition in Kochi.<\/p>\r\n

The Popular \u201cHittsuke\u201d Series<\/h3>\r\n

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One of the shop\u2019s beloved local items is the \u201cHittsuke\u201d<\/strong> series.
\r\nHittsuke<\/em> is a Kochi dialect word that roughly means \u201cto stick on\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cto attach.\u201d<\/strong>
\r\nThe name comes from how the fish paste is literally pressed or \u201cstuck onto\u201d other ingredients\u2014simple home cooking that many families in Kochi grew up with.<\/p>\r\n

Here are two classic versions:
\r\n\u30fbShiitake Hittsuke<\/strong>: shiitake mushrooms with a generous layer of seasoned fish paste on the underside
\r\n\u30fbKoya Hittsuke<\/strong>: dried tofu (koya-dofu<\/em>) stuffed with fish paste and gently simmered until soft<\/p>\r\n

These aren\u2019t tourist snacks\u2014they\u2019re everyday dishes that locals buy without thinking twice.
\r\nYou\u2019ll often hear familiar voices saying:<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThree curry dango and two shiitake hittsuke, please!\u201d<\/p>\r\n

It gives the shop the friendly, bustling feeling of a neighborhood market.<\/p>\r\n

Taste Kochi\u2019s Daily Life Right in the Shopping Street<\/h3>\r\n

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If you\u2019re exploring the city, this is a perfect stop for a quick bite.
\r\nMost items can be bought individually, so you can snack while strolling through the shopping street.<\/p>\r\n

Take a moment, eat alongside the locals, and you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve stepped into Kochi\u2019s everyday rhythm\u2014simple, friendly, and delicious.<\/p>\r\n

Matsuoka Kamaboko is more than a fish cake shop.
\r\nIt\u2019s a small piece of Kochi\u2019s identity, shaped by tradition and the people who keep it alive.<\/p>\r\n

Matsuoka Kamaboko<\/span>
\r\nAddress:<\/strong> 2-4-3 Obiyamachi, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture
\r\nHours:<\/strong> 9:00\u201317:00
\r\nClosed:<\/strong> Irregular holidays
\r\nParking:<\/strong> None (paid parking nearby)
\r\nPayment:<\/strong> Credit cards available
\r\nLanguage Support:<\/strong> Basic English available (staff can help with simple communication)<\/p>\r\n

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