Ichigoni

Ichigoni is a traditional soup and a specialty of Hachinohe in the prefecture of Aomori. The soup is made with sea urchin, abalone, and a seafood broth. It's typically served with green onions and thinly sliced shiso herb. Ichigoni is considered a luxurious dish, which is why it's often prepared and served for festive and celebratory occasions or New Year. In the town of Hachinohe, there's an annual Ichigoni Festival at the end of every July. The name ichigoni means strawberry, referring to the poetical visual appearance of sea urchins in the cloudy broth – they look like wild strawberries in the morning dew.