The mysterious gourmet "Konkonjak", which has been sold at Hirosaki Park for about 40 years, has been attracting attention from cherry-blossom visitors this year as well.

Black konjak sold for a limited time at the Hirosaki Sakura Festival. This local gourmet is made by immersing a square konjak in the size of a palm in a black sauce. According to Masaru Kudo (77), who sells 90 to 110 pieces per minute, and sold 1.5 million yen a day.

There are various speculations about the manufacturing method, but the recipe is not disclosed "because it will be imitated". However, it's easy to make, and says, "We started selling with a little chance."

Mr. Kudo from Goshogawara city, Aomori prefecture, was fascinated by the world of commerce and got a job at a liquor store in Hirosaki city. Even after starting black konjac, the store continues as a core business. He was often asked to talk about the diversification of black konjak, such as sales throughout the year and expansion of sales channels, but he said that he refused all because it was a liquor store.

“Customers come to taste 100 yen, not konjac,” says Mr. Kudo, who explains the depth of business. The place where we set up our store every year is on the left, just north of Katabashi. Analyzing this location, 80% or more of tourists will pass due to the location of Yonomaru, where stalls such as haunted houses and motorcycle circuses are open, and the popular locations of Shimonori Bridge, Honmaru and parking lots. There is. Therefore, the store location is not given to anyone.

In order to let tourists know about it, strategic developments such as giving black konjak to the bus guide and behaving apple juice are also possible. "Insert (money)," guides you to put money in the basket placed on the counter, and "grasp (black konjac)" and hands out the removed black konjac. It is a sales style established in order to efficiently provide such conversations over 40 years.

One black konjac is 100 yen. Hirosaki Sakura Festival is until May 6th.