Aomori Sotogahama restaurant "Kanita River" (TEL 0174-31-1228 ) is currently holding a "Shiro Festival".

From the end of April every year, white-tailed eels migrate upstream to spawn in the Kanita River, which flows through the Sotogahama and Kanita districts. Whitefish fishing is a spring tradition in the area, and whitefish dancing and seasonal dishes are popular with tourists every year.

Satsu Ebisu, chairman of the Kanita Kawashoku Culture Research Group, which organizes the Shirou Matsuri, says, "Shirouo is about five centimeters long and has a thin, transparent body. Unlike whitebait, It doesn't have a fishy smell, and when you bite into it, it's sweet.At our club, we don't just eat it for dancing, we serve it as tempura or with egg."

According to Mr. Ebisu, the "Shiro Festival" has been held since 1988, when the Seikan Tunnel began to be used, and at first there were stalls lined up along the river, and there were experiences such as scooping whitefish. "The scale has been shrinking year by year due to the aging population and lack of workers, and now we only have our 'Kanita River' which is open during the festival period," says Ebisu.

This year was the first time in four years that the event was held. Originally, it was a "Crab and Shiro Festival", but it is said that this year's crab cannot be offered due to poor catches. Mr. Ebisu says with a smile, "Instead, we have a crab-shaped nebuta on the ceiling."

The menu includes the famous "Shiroo dance meal" (700 yen), "Shiroo full course" (2,300 yen), "Shiroo set meal" (1,800 yen), "Shiroo soba" " Shiro udon" (600 yen).

The festival will be held from April 22nd. It is said that there are customers who visit from inside and outside the prefecture every day just for the sake of “Shiroo no Odori-kui”. Mr. Ebisu said, "Actually, I was worried about holding this year's festival, but I decided to do it because I thought that if I didn't do it this year, the Shirou Matsuri would disappear. The average age of our group is now 80, and I am 86. I want young people to eat it and tell the story of Kanita's Shirouo cuisine."

Business hours are from 10:30 to 16:00. Until May 7th.