March 4th, 2012
In one day, a thousand people are treated to tofu soup from a huge pot, 4 meters in diameter [The Oyama Tofu Festival]=Oyama, Isehara City
On the 3rd, the Oyama area of Isehara City, known as the home of tofu dishes, began the annual Oyama Tofu Festival event. Sponsored by an executive comitee created by local business members involved in the tourist industry, this year marks the 22nd occasion of the festival.
At the main location (the city's Dai-Ni parking lot) a huge, 4 meter diameter cooking pot (Hermit Pot) is stationed. Both in the morning and afternoon, a Shinto ritual was performed, blessing the tofu with gratitude. Afterwards Oyama area's own unique medicinal herbs were added into the pot. An estimated 1000 spectators received tofu soup, free of charge.
In addition, there were other events such as a 90 second eating contest for who could eat the most plates of tofu (The Fried Tofu Speed Eating Contest) and a workshop for creating tofu by hand.
”Although I've already come to Oyama, this is my first tofu festival. I was suprised that the pot was bigger than I thought. The bitterness of the herbs makes the tofu soup even more delicious," said Kanno Yuji (58) a company employe of Fujisawa City, inbetween slurps.
The festival will also be held on the 4th, with the tofu soup being served at 9:45AM and 2:00PM.
Original text:
大山とうふまつり始まる、「仙人鍋」で恵みに感謝/伊勢原
2012年3月4日
直径４メートルの大鍋で１日千人分の湯豆腐が振る舞われた「大山とうふまつり」＝伊勢原市大山
豆腐料理の里として知られる伊勢原市の大山地域で３日、毎年恒例の「大山とうふまつり」が始まった。地元の観光事業者などでつくる実行委員会の主催で、今年で22回目。
メーン会場のとうふ広場（市営第２駐車場）では、直径４メートルの大鍋「仙人鍋」が設けられた。豆腐の恵みに感謝する神事の後、地元特産の薬草「大山菜」とともに豆腐が鍋に入り、午前と午後の２回、計約千人分の湯豆腐が観光客らに無料で振る舞われた。
このほか、90秒間で豆腐を何杯食べられるかを競い合う「椀子（わんこ）豆腐早食い大会」や、手作り豆腐体験なども行われた。
藤沢市の会社員今野祐司さん（58）は「大山には来たことがあるけど、とうふまつりは初めて。鍋が思ったより大きくてびっくりした。湯豆腐も薬草の辛みが効いておいしい」と舌鼓を打っていた。
まつりは４日も行われ、湯豆腐は午前９時45分と午後２時に振る舞われる。
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