Asakusa is a town where you can feel happy just by walking around, thanks to its unique Japanese atmosphere. Ume to Hoshi, located in an alley next to Nakamise Shopping Street, is a place where you can enjoy pickled plums and other rice accompaniments that Japan is proud of. This time, we spoke with Junpei Takeuchi, CEO of Bamboo Cut Co., Ltd., which operates Ume to Hoshi.

16 types of pickled plums from all over Japan welcome you

▲ There are 16 different kinds of umeboshi lined up. They sell a wide range, from sweet to sour, and even rare varieties.

Upon entering the store, you are greeted by umeboshi plums from all over Japan. Takeuchi explains that even though many people think of umeboshi as a representative part of Japanese food culture, they don't know how to make them.

"Many Japanese people have been eating umeboshi for a while now, and have come to think of them as a national dish of Japan. I thought it was a mysterious culture, and I wanted to know more about it."

Takeuchi says he found the relationship between umeboshi and the nostalgia felt by Japanese people intriguing.

"I was born and raised in Tokyo, so there's no place that you could call the countryside. When I was talking to people about umeboshi, I noticed that many people said that grandmas in the countryside make them and that their flavor is the best. I felt envious that people have a flavor that is associated with the place they return to. This feeling, and my genuine interest in umeboshi culture, led me to open exhibitions and shops centered around umeboshi."

Initially, an exhibition entitled "Japanese Umeboshi Exhibition" was held throughout Japan and in France to promote the appeal of umeboshi. After that, a "standing umeboshi shop" was opened for a limited time, where 16 carefully selected varieties were chosen from over 300 varieties from around the country. Currently, there is a permanent store in Tokyo Solamachi, and it is gaining popularity as a store where umeboshi are the main attraction.

Putting umeboshi back in a supporting role: Japanese stars who enhance rice dishes

▲At the back of the shop there is a U-shaped counter and a kamado (a rice cooker), and the names of rice accompaniments are lined up on the wall.

Ume to Hoshi is a restaurant that was created with the aim of allowing umeboshi to once again play a supporting role.

"The delicious umeboshi makes the rice stand out, and the delicious rice makes the umeboshi stand out. There are many rice accompaniments in Japan that complement each other well, and we want other rice accompaniments to shine as the stars of Japanese cuisine. That's the feeling we put into the name of our restaurant, Ume to Hoshi (Plum and Star)."

In addition to the usual side dishes such as pickles, salmon, and natto, you can also enjoy Akita's specialty smoked daikon radish and Kumamoto's specialty fried tofu, Nankanage, dressed with Japanese pepper. Among the various side dishes, Ume to Hoshi's signature dish is the fluffy egg, which has the umami flavor of dashi and the subtle sourness of plums. Its texture combines the best of scrambled eggs and chawanmushi, and goes perfectly with rice.

"Uki-Uki Tamago is an egg dish made with irizake, a seasoning that is said to have existed in the Edo period before soy sauce. Irizake is made by boiling down kelp, bonito flakes, and pickled plums, and is characterized by its gentle umami and sourness. Uki-Uki Tamago is a modern adaptation of an egg dish called ufu-ni, which was actually made in the Edo period using irizake."

▲ Uki Uki Tamago's breakfast set. You can choose from three types of pickled plums prepared that day.

The selection criteria for the side dishes are that they are the side dishes that Takeuchi would like to eat before he dies, and that they are delicious and can be eaten without any stress. For those who can't choose, there is also a set menu where you can choose the side dish of the day by drawing a fortune. You can enjoy the unexpected encounter with deliciousness, and some people say that the side dishes are so delicious that they end up having several refills of rice.

What Bamboo Cut Co., Ltd. values is "a chic atmosphere and spirit," and Takeuchi says that Asakusa is the perfect town for that.

"For some reason, everyone looks a little happy when they exit the ticket gates at Asakusa Station. I think that the historic streetscape gets Japanese people excited too. I would be delighted if, while enjoying their sightseeing in Asakusa, they dine at Ume to Hoshi and learn about the fascinating world of umeboshi and Japanese food culture, both Japanese and foreign."

梅と星
電話番号：03-4400-8620
住所：東京都台東区浅草2丁目2−4
アクセス：東京メトロ銀座線浅草駅から徒歩3分
HP：https://ume-hoshi.jp/
※営業時間や定休日についての詳細は上記のリンク先にてご確認ください。