There is a saying that food is God’s love made edible. Hatahata is one such Japanese food that is dear to the people in Akita and whose importance is embodied in its name. Hatahata, also known as Japanese sandfish in English, due to its natural habitat occurring in sandy mud-bottoms, is the designated prefectural fish of Akita. They are found only during the cold winter months, due to its inability to survive in temperatures above 15 degrees Celcius (59 degrees Fahrenheit).
Hatahata fish -Akita’s Winter Blessing-
