Season 16 · Episode 4

Journeys in Japan: Hokuriku 1: Foods and Flavors of the Trading Ships

The Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train connects Tokyo with Toyama, Ishikawa and (since March 2024) Fukui Prefecture. This region along the Sea of Japan has its own distinctive history and culture. Until the late 19th century, Hokuriku was the hub for a vital trading route plied by sailing ships known as kitamaebune. Besides carrying cargo from Hokkaido all the way to Osaka, these vessels also stopped at ports along the way, introducing a range of foods and culture from afar. In the first of two episodes on the Hokuriku region, Kyle Card visits Takaoka (Toyama Prefecture) and Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture), to explore the traditional food culture that blossomed in the region thanks to the kitamaebune traders.