By YASUYUKI AOKI/ Staff Writer
October 12, 2023 at 14:41 JST
The first shipment of “matsutake” mushrooms in Tanba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, on Oct. 11 (Yasuyuki Aoki)
TANBA-SASAYAMA, Hyogo Prefecture--The year’s first auction of local “matsutake” mushrooms was held here on Oct. 11, with just three mushrooms, weighing 198 grams in total, fetching 930,000 yen ($6,235) from the historic Kinmata “ryokan” inn.
The mushrooms were between 9.5 and 11 centimeters long and had caps 4.5 to 5.5 cm in diameter.
Despite the hefty price, Kinmata’s head chef, Ryuji Shimizu, said as he checked the mushroom’s aroma: “I was relieved to win the auction, as customers have been asking me if we had any locally produced matsutake. We will serve them grilled or steamed in an earthenware teapot.”
This first mushroom auction of the season, held at the Tanba-Sasayama Market in Tanba-Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, occurred about 10 days later than usual.
“The first arrival was delayed due to the lingering summer heat, but the products are excellent,” said market manager Toshiaki Iseki.
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