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THERE ARE FEW
things more
important to the people of Osaka than
food. After all, it’s not for nothing that
the city is traditionally known as
tenka
no daidokoro
(the nation’s kitchen).
Down every alley, along every street
and in every shopping mall, you’ll
discover a myriad places to eat, from
cheap and cheerful roadside stalls
selling
takoyaki
octopus dumplings
to wallet-busting
kaiseki
restaurants
serving up high-end cuisine. Indeed,
the Kansai region, of which Osaka is a
part, now has nearly 300 restaurants
listed in the latest Michelin guide. In
Tokyo they might shop till they drop,
but in Osaka it’s all about
kuidaore
(eat
till you drop).
To add an extra layer to your
understanding of the city’s long-
The city
,
s love of food is legendary, with culinary
curiosities around every street corner. If you
,
re
an early riser, consider paying a visit to the Osaka
Central Wholesale Market, the place that makes it
all possible. Story and photos by Trevor Mogg
Osaka’s
fishfrenzy
standing food culture, take a trip to
the early morning market that marks
the midway point for the vast majority
of the fresh food that ends up on
the plates of Osaka people prior to
pleasuring their taste buds. When a
friend suggested going along to explore
the Osaka Central Wholesale Market,
I was quick to say yes. I was a little
slower to agree to the meeting time,
however; it meant getting out of bed at
3am. “The main fish auction starts at
4.15am,” my friend explained. I agreed,
and am mighty glad I did.
I may have still been half asleep
when I arrived at the market, but
the moment the auction bell started
clanging loudly at 4.15am sharp, I was
instantly bright-eyed (though perhaps
not quite bushy-tailed).
09LKH Smile
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