Hambe at Yaidzu

1. First View: An Encounter with Yaizu

In the later years of his 14-year stay in Japan, Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) spent six summers in Yaizu.
He grew fond of the deep, rough seas and wrote five stories about the town, inspired by his interactions with the local people.
For him, Yaizu was a place for fieldwork, and his famous work "At Yaidzu" vividly depicts the town's scenery, fishing boats, the Obon festival, and his exchanges with the residents.

Rediscover the Flavor Loved by Lafcadio Hearn in Yaizu.

"Hambe at Yaidzu" revitalizes the authentic taste of traditional black hanpen, a local delicacy of Yaizu. Kuro-hanpen, known locally in Yaizu as 'Hambe', is a traditional fish cake unique to this region. This product is inspired by "At Yaidzu," a literary work by Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), who fell in love with Yaizu and its culture. Experience the taste that captivated the heart of a world-renowned writer.

2. The Story Behind the Illustration

The delicate illustration on the product label is no ordinary artwork; it was sketched by Lafcadio Hearn himself during his time in Yaizu. This sketch was later published in RE-ECHO, a book compiled by his son, Kazuo Koizumi. We are honored to use this illustration from an original 1957 edition of the book.

We would like to express our special thanks to Mr. Katsumasa Mataki for generously lending us the valuable material, "RE-ECHO."

Illustration from: RE-ECHO by Kazuo Koizumi, Edited by Nancy J. Fellers (1957 Caxton Printers, Ltd.).

Please enjoy the video poem.
The Seascapes that Captivated Hearn at Yaizu.

3. Our Concept: The Pride of Yaizu

A Tradition of Quality Since 1946

"Since 1946, our family has been making, perfecting and distributing high quality kuro-hanpen in Yaizu City, the largest fishing port in Japan. This local specialty has been a favorite comfort food for generations."
"We take great pride in using only premium grade, locally sourced ingredients to create our all-natural products. Our kuro-hanpen contains no artificial additives, preservatives, or MSG."
"We wish to introduce this delicious and unique comfort food from our hometown of Yaizu to the people of the world."

4. What is Kuro-Hanpen?

Crave 100% Natural Food? Here it is!

"Kuro-hanpen is a soft-textured, mild-tasting, fish-paste patty made by grinding whole sardines and mackerel. This nutritious food is a rich source of calcium, iron, and DHA."

5. How to Enjoy

Discover the authentic ways to enjoy kuro-hanpen, with simple recipes we proudly shared at the Shizuoka Fair in Los Angeles. From pan-frying to a golden brown, adding it to a hearty oden stew, or simply enjoying it with a touch of soy sauce and wasabi, kuro-hanpen is as versatile as it is delicious. Explore the possibilities and bring the taste of Yaizu to your table.

Pan-fry: Gently over low heat with a small amount of olive oil. Enjoy with your choice of wasabi or ginger soy sauce.

Pan-Fried: Lightly fry in a pan until both sides are golden brown. Serve with ginger and soy sauce for a savory snack.

In Oden: Add to your favorite oden hot pot. It will absorb the delicious broth and become wonderfully tender.