Fukui Prefecture local quiz! Become a Fukui expert with fun questions for elementary school students.

Winter

In Fukui Prefecture, there is a custom of eating mizu-yokan in winter. It is said to have begun in the Taisho era. It is especially popular around New Year’s, enjoyed by families as a traditional sweet treat. It has been adapted to taste good even in the cold winter, and continues today as a uniquely Fukui winter food culture.

Taisho era

Bokkake, a local dish from Fukui Prefecture, has been enjoyed for over 100 years since the Taisho era. It’s a hearty, ingredient-rich broth made with root vegetables like daikon radish and carrots, plus shirataki (konjac) noodles, which is poured over rice to eat. The name “bokkake” comes from the word meaning “to pour over.” It’s a simple, home-style traditional dish from Fukui—comforting, warming, and delicious.

tung oil tree

“Happazushi” is a local dish from Fukui Prefecture, often eaten on celebratory occasions. It is made using the leaves of the deciduous tree Aleurites cordata (aburagiri): slices of trout and ginger placed on rice are wrapped in the leaf. Wrapping with this leaf makes the dish visually appealing and adds a pleasant aroma. It is a traditional Fukui specialty enjoyed with family and relatives as a festive treat on special days.

jujube

Fukui Prefecture has the highest jujube production in Japan, accounting for about 97% of the nation’s total. Jujubes are known as a fruit that’s good for your health. As for other fruits, Fukui ranks 33rd nationwide in blueberry production and 10th in wild grape (yamabudō). Fukui is famous as a major production area for jujubes, with many farmers carefully cultivating them.

dinosaur

Fukui Prefecture is home to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. This museum is a place where you can see many dinosaur fossils and models. Along with the Zigong Dinosaur Museum in China and the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Canada, it is counted as one of the world’s three great dinosaur museums. It’s very popular among people interested in dinosaurs and is a famous tourist spot in Fukui that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

Omelet rice

“Volga Rice” is a local gourmet dish from Fukui Prefecture: an omelet rice topped with a cutlet. It’s commonly eaten in the Takefu area of Echizen City, Fukui. The origin of the name and which restaurant first created it are still unclear. With its hearty appearance, great taste, and popularity, it’s a distinctive food you can only find in Fukui.

back

In Fukui Prefecture, there is a dialect word “ura,” which means “I” or “me.” For example, if someone says, “Ura, kono toki wa inakatta yo,” it means “I wasn’t here at that time.” This way of speaking has been used in Fukui for a long time and is a special word used when talking about oneself. It’s an interesting dialect unique to Fukui that you don’t hear much in other prefectures.