SADO, Niigata -- The Furumaiya Nagamo restaurant in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, was started in March 2017 by fisherman-cum-chef Takayuki Houri and his friend, in the hopes of offering people opportunities to appreciate the authentic flavors of fish.
Houri, 55, catches local fish and harvests seaweed on his own to serve at his restaurant, located near Ryotsu Port, the gateway to Sado Island.
In his childhood, Houri used to accompany his fisherman father when he went to sea off Sado. Houri later worked as a chef at facilities and restaurants run by Sado Steam Ship Co. before becoming independent.
Nagamo, part of his restaurant's name, is also the name of a seaweed that has been consumed by islanders since ancient times. The local specialty, some of which can grow more than 10 meters long, is usually known as akamoku in other parts of the nation.
Ika-nagamo-don, or a bowl of rice topped with squid and nagamo (800 yen), is Furumaiya Nagamo's signature item that Houri said he invented more than 25 years ago. Nagamo, which becomes sticky once blanched and chopped, is seasoned with soy sauce and wasabi, before being placed on rice with sashimi of squid, another specialty of Sado. You can enjoy the chewy squid and the crunchy texture of nagamo.
The harvest season for nagamo runs from January to March. Houri catches the seaweed for about a month from mid-February, when the seaweed develops more viscosity, and keeps them refrigerated. He prepares different kinds of squid for each season so that customers can enjoy the signature dish throughout the year. His restaurant also offers various other preparations for nagamo, including tempura for 380 yen.
Fresh sashimi and grilled fish are available. Also, deep-fried fish is popular among those who usually don't like fish as the frying allows the bones to be eaten.
Houri works hard to promote fish consumption, among other activities serving as an instructor at cooking classes to teach how to fillet.
"I want to continue serving dishes with which I can boast our tasty Sado fish," Houri said.
Furumaiya Nagamo
Open: 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m. (9:30 p.m. last orders)
Closed: Irregularly
Address: 271-1 Ryotsu-ebisu, Sado, Niigata Prefecture
Phone: (0259) 67-7414
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