When it comes to Hamamatsu, most people think of eel—but did you know the region is also known for softshell turtle, with a long and storied history?…

This article was created on March 31, 2022.

Jenne and her friends go out on location early in the morning.

Ayano Jenne looks very sleepy.

Jenne Okubo then offers hot soup.

“This is actually a soft-shelled turtle soup that is very good for the body.Hamamatsu is actually the birthplace of soft-shelled turtles,” says Jenne Okubo.

When you think of Hamamatsu, you probably think of eel, but in fact, soft-shelled turtle is also famous and has a long history.

On this day, I visited the Hattori Nakamura Tortoise Farm in Magori-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City, which is a company that has started full-scale farming of soft-shelled turtles.

It is said that eel was also farmed in the past.

Turtle farm’s soft-shelled turtle

Soft-shelled turtle is a high-quality food ingredient that is said to be good for beauty and health as it contains a lot of collagen and amino acids, but it has a long growing period and takes 3 to 4 years to grow before being shipped, making it difficult to maintain a stable supply.

I had the experience of picking up such a soft-shelled turtle.

The two of them changed their clothes and went to the pond where the soft-shelled turtle was.

Using a tool called a poking tool, you poke the surface of the pond to find where the soft-shelled turtles are.

From November to March, they wake the hibernating soft-shelled turtles by pecking them. It’s a pick-up experience that requires a lot of physical strength.

When you show them a sample, they find it very easily and lightly put it in the basket.

At that time, Jenne Ayano gets a chance!

“Why can’t I take it??”

Even if Jenne Ayano puts effort into turning the peck, she can’t get it off easily.

“This is a big one!”

Ayano Jenne stands by Suzuki’s words at Hattori Nakamura Tortoise Farm.

Five minutes later, I picked up a very large soft-shelled turtle.

“This is not a shipping turtle, it’s a parent’s soft-shelled turtle.”

It’s heavy. It was a good exercise and a valuable experience.

You can have it prepared in a variety of ways at restaurants in the Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana area.

In the second half of Jenne Channel, we filmed him having a full course of soft-shelled turtle at a restaurant in the city.

Please take a look.

・This interview destination: Hattori Nakamura Tortoise Farm

・Please check Jenne Channel to see what happened this time.

[High quality ingredients from Hamamatsu] Full of collagen! Hamamatsu/Lake Hamana’s soft-shelled turtles have been around for over 140 years

「https://youtu.be/kqyzlIVYU94」

[Hamamatsu Power Food] Enjoy the whole soft-shelled turtle! At the popular and well-known restaurant Kozaro

「https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz7rdc61MSQ&feature=youtu.be」

*The information in this article is subject to change.