Vol.8 Imai, a Japanese restaurant that captivates the taste buds and hearts with its carefully selected ingredients

We spoke with Mr. Imai, the manager of Imai, an authentic Japanese restaurant located just a three-minute walk from Hadano Station.

Mr. Imai, the manager of "Imai"

I was born and raised in Hadano, and as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a chef. I started my apprenticeship at a Kyoto cuisine restaurant in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, where my master taught me many things, from the basics of cooking to techniques. Finally, I gained confidence, and my master sent me back to Hadano, where I opened my own restaurant, Imai, in front of the station 25 years ago. Even now, I use the cooking techniques I learned from my master and my experience at the Kyoto cuisine restaurant to offer a wide variety of seasonal menus, incorporating a wide range of local ingredients, such as locally grown vegetables from Hadano and the abundant seafood purchased from the markets in Kawasaki.

A wide variety of menu items using fresh seafood

For the 25 years since we opened, we have strived to create a restaurant where customers can relax and unwind. We have many long-time regulars, some of whom have become so close that they share fish they catch in Sagami Bay and potatoes they grow in their own fields. We also have many golfers and tourists from outside the prefecture who come to enjoy our fresh seafood. A popular menu item is our assortment of fresh local fish sashimi. We source it from a market in Kawasaki that morning. Our signature Kyoto dish, "Mackerel Sushi Roll" (pictured below), is also extremely popular. Mackerel is especially delicious during the cold season, as it's rich in fat.

Lightly marinated fatty mackerel is recommended for Kanai Sake Brewery's sake.

-You stock sake from Kanai Sake Brewery. What are your customers' reactions to it, and what snacks would you recommend to go with it?

We are often asked by tourists from outside the prefecture if there is any local sake from Kanagawa, and we offer two types of sake, "Daiginjo" and "Wakamizu," from Kanai Sake Brewery, the only sake brewery in Hadano.

The perfect pairing for the "Daiginjo" is Funazushi (Funazushi, Shiga Prefecture), which has been delivered since the days of the restaurant's Kyoto cuisine in Kagurazaka. The flavor of the crucian carp, reminiscent of fermented and aged blue cheese, is an excellent match for the sake from Kanai Sake Brewery. Some customers love the "Daiginjo" they try for the first time so much that they ask for multiple refills, and some even reserve the bottle after their first try, making it so popular.

Not only that, Kanai Sake Brewery's sake also pairs well with a wide variety of seafood dishes. Today, we'll briefly introduce two of the most popular recipes: "Softly Boiled Octopus" and "Rapeseed Blossoms with Mustard Dressing." Anyone can easily make delicious snacks at home by following the steps below. Please give it a try. (See the end of this article)

Snacks that go perfectly with Kanai Sake Brewery's sake

-Please tell us what is attractive about Hadano.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides and blessed with a rich natural environment, Hadano City is an attractive city for many residents. For me, when I leave Hadano and return, the smell of the soil and the sights of my hometown make it an indispensable place, and I feel a deep sense of relief. My recommended spot is Mount Kobo, a popular destination for elementary school field trips. It is a casual mountain climb that takes about two hours round trip, and is loved by many people for trekking and hiking. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom all over the city. Sakuramichi, in particular, is a spectacular spot where a tunnel of cherry blossoms stretches for several kilometers.

When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, many people come to see them.

-Please tell us about the future of Imai. Also, please give us a message for Kanai Sake Brewery.

Thanks to the support of our customers, we have been able to continue operating our restaurant in front of Hadano Station for 25 long years. We hope that it will continue to be a place where customers can relax and enjoy food and drinks. In addition, the sake from Kanai Sake Brewery, the only sake brewery in Hadano, is very popular at our restaurant, and is a local sake that I personally enjoy and recommend. I hope that you will continue to make delicious sake that will continue to captivate many people.

<Imai-san's recommended recipe>

"Softly boiled octopus"
This dish is made by simmering octopus and daikon radish in a pressure cooker, but using carbonated water instead of plain water makes it very soft. Finishing it off with soy sauce and sugar seasoning helps maintain its plump texture.

"Rape blossoms with mustard"
This dish is made by tossing rape blossoms in Japanese mustard, soy sauce, mirin, and dashi stock. At Imai, they use a second dashi stock made from kelp and bonito.

Introduction to "Imai"

This Kyoto-style kappo restaurant serves authentic Japanese cuisine, carefully prepared with a focus on fresh fish dishes. The recommended menu item is the sashimi platter, which features fresh fish procured from the market.

Store name: Imai <br>Address: 1-1-1 Honmachi, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Contact: 0463-84-2525
Business hours: 17:00-23:30
Closed: Mondays Access: 3 minutes walk from Hadano Station on the Odakyu Line