Obama City Fish Market

Overview

In this episode of Only in Japan Go, John Daub visits Obama City in Fukui Prefecture during spring (April). The primary focus is a fresh sashimi breakfast enjoyed at a local restaurant connected to the city's fish market. John showcases the variety and quality of the seafood, including squid, salmon, and tuna, while discussing the cost and value of the meal. He provides historical context about Obama City as a gateway for trade between China and Kyoto, specifically highlighting the saba kaido (mackerel road). The video concludes with John preparing to depart for Fukui City to visit the Dinosaur Museum, capturing the transient nature of travel and the immediacy of fresh local food.

Highlights

• 00:02 John introduces Obama City, Fukui Prefecture, and his goal to eat sashimi.
• 00:59 Detailed breakdown of the sashimi breakfast components (squid, salmon, tuna, rice).
• 01:56 Discussion on the price of the meal ($14) and the variety offered.
• 04:12 John begins eating, mixing wasabi into soy sauce.
• 06:30 Insight on quality fish: "Good sashimi or sushi never smells like fish."
• 08:02 Observation of cherry blossom petals blowing in the street.
• 09:17 Explanation of the saba kaido (mackerel road) history.
• 11:17 Mention of using Filmic Pro app for video recording.
• 12:28 Plans to visit Fukui City's Dinosaur Museum.

Timeline / Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Obama City and breakfast goal.
• 00:59 Description of the sashimi set meal.
• 01:56 Price discussion and filming logistics.
• 04:12 Eating the sashimi.
• 06:30 Quality indicators of fresh fish.
• 08:02 Camera setup and cherry blossoms.
• 09:17 Historical context of Obama City and Mackerel Road.
• 11:17 Checkout logistics and next destination.
• 12:28 Departure and final food shots.

Japan Travel Tips

• Fish Market Breakfasts: Look for restaurants attached to local fish markets for fresh, affordable sashimi sets (teishoku).
• Cost Value: This substantial breakfast cost approximately $14, offering high value for quality seafood.
• Freshness Indicator: High-quality sashimi should not smell like fish; freshness is key.
• Seasonal Timing: April offers cherry blossoms (sakura) and pleasant weather for travel in Fukui.
• Regional Specialties: Fukui Prefecture is known for seafood and dinosaur fossils; plan visits accordingly.
• Transport: Obama City is a gateway; consider the historical routes when planning itineraries near Kyoto.

Japanese Language & Culture Notes

• Sashimi Teishoku (刺身定食): A set meal featuring raw fish slices, rice, and soup. Common in coastal areas.
• Ika (イカ): Squid, often served fresh in coastal regions.
• Maguro (マグロ): Tuna, a staple in Japanese sushi and sashimi.
• Yaki Saba (焼き鯖): Grilled mackerel. Obama City is historically linked to mackerel transport.
• Saba Kaido (鯖街道): The "Mackerel Road," a historical route used to transport salted mackerel from the Sea of Japan to Kyoto for dignitaries.
• Wasabi (ワサби): Green paste mixed with soy sauce for sashimi.
• Miso Soup (味噌湯): Traditional soybean paste soup served with breakfast.

Food & Drink Guide

• Sashimi Teishoku (刺身定食): 00:59. Set meal including squid, salmon, tuna, rice, miso soup. Price: ~$14. John's reaction: "Amazing," "So good."
• Ika (イカ): 00:59. Squid sashimi.
• Maguro (マグロ): 00:59. Tuna sashimi (two kinds).
• Yaki Saba (焼き鯖): 09:17. Grilled mackerel, famous in Obama City.
• Rice & Miso Soup: 00:59. Large portion of rice, standard miso soup.

People

• John Daub: Host. American living in Japan for 30+ years. Enthusiastic about food, history, and travel logistics. He narrates the experience, eats the meal, and explains the cultural context.
• Restaurant Staff (Unseen): Mentioned as bringing out extra food, but not visually featured or named.

Key Takeaways

• Obama City offers exceptional fresh seafood breakfasts at reasonable prices.
• The city has historical significance as a trade gateway (Saba Kaido).
• Fresh sashimi quality is identifiable by the absence of a "fishy" smell.
• Fukui Prefecture combines seafood culture with paleontology (Dinosaur Museum).
• Travel logistics (hotel checkout) often dictate pacing during food exploration.

Notable Quotes

• 00:02 "Hello everybody, greetings from Obama City, Fukui Prefecture. I'm here to eat some sashimi."
• 00:59 "Look how beautiful this is. This is my breakfast."
• 01:56 "How much do you think this cost? What do you think the price of this sashimi teishoku breakfast is?"
• 04:12 "It's about 9:15 here. That's amazing, right? It was $14 for this."
• 06:30 "Good sashimi or sushi never smells like fish."
• 08:02 "Cherry blossom petals blowing in the street."
• 09:17 "There's a road called the saba kaido (mackerel road)... led from here all the way to Kyoto."
• 11:17 "I'm using this Filmic Pro app to film it, and it's pretty good."
• 12:28 "There's a dinosaur museum. And the dinosaur museum, it's like, what? Like dinosaurs in Japan?"
• 12:28 "I'm not political. I'm not. Bye guys."

Related Topics

• Fukui Prefecture Travel
• Japanese Seafood Markets
• Historical Trade Routes in Japan
• Dinosaur Museums in Japan
• Spring Travel in Japan (Cherry Blossoms)

Search Tags

#only-in-japan-go #obama #fukui #fish-market #sashimi #breakfast #seafood #mackerel #saba-kaido #dinosaur-museum #travel #japan-food #spring #cherry-blossoms #iphone-video