is a Japanese term most often applied to regional specialties (also known as meisan).
can also be applied to specialized areas of interest, such as , where it refers to famous tea utensils, or [[Japanese swords]], where it refers to specific named famous blades.
Definition
could be classified into the following five categories:[According to a paper by Laura Nenzi cited by Jilly Traganou in ''The Tokaido Road: Traveling and Representation in Edo and Meiji Japan'' (Routledge, 2004), (72)]
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, regional Japanese food specialties such as the roasted rice cakes () of Hodogaya, and the yam gruel, toro-jiru of Mariko;
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as souvenirs such as the of Kamakura or the shell-decorated screens of Enoshima;
In the past, also included:
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Supernatural souvenirs and wonder-working panaceas, such as the bitter powders of Menoke that supposedly cured a large number of illnesses;
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Bizarre things that added a touch of the "exotic" to the aura of each location such as the fire-resistant salamanders of Hakone; and
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Prostitutes, who made localities such as Shinagawa, Fujisawa, Akasaka, Yoshida-juku and Goyu-shuku famous. In some cases these people may have encouraged visits to otherwise impoverished and remote localities, contributing to the local economy and the exchange between people of different backgrounds.
Several prints in various versions of the ukiyo-e series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō depict . These include Arimatsu , various fabrics sold at Narumi (station 41), and (sliced gourd), a product of Minakuchi (station 51), as well as a famous teahouse at Mariko-juku (station 21) and a famous (rest stop) selling a type of ricecake called at Kusatsu-juku (station 51).
Another category are special tea tools that were historic and precious items of Japanese tea ceremony.
Usage
Evelyn Adam gave the following account of in her 1910 book,
Behind the Shoji:
Examples
In media
are key to the promotion of tourism within Japan, and have been frequently depicted in media since the [[Edo period]] (1603–1867).
Ukiyo-e
File:Opening shellfish at Fukagawa.jpg| opening shellfish at Fukagawa by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
File:Edo Jiman Meibutsu Kurabe (BM 1906,1220,0.1327).jpg| with pumpkin grown at Sunamura by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
File:GojūSanTsugi-MeishoZu'e, Narumi by Hiroshige.jpg| Narumi: Shop selling famous Arimatsu tie-dyed fabric by Hiroshige
File:Hizenkuni, Imari yaki 肥前伊萬里焼 (All the Famous Products of Land and Sea) (BM 2008,3037.03401).jpg|Imari ware kiln in Hizen Province by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
File:Fukuroi Reisho Tokaido.jpg|: famous kites of Tōtōmi Province by Hiroshige
File:Een pop en ander speelgoed.jpeg|Famous products of Yamashiro Province by Keisai Eisen
File:MET DP139064.jpg|Famous product of Fukagawa, Tokyo, yokan by Hokucho Joren
Manga and Anime
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Ekiben Hitoritabi, Cooking manga and travel manga about ekiben containing tokusanhin
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Golden Kamuy, a Seinen manga and anime that includes many Ainu people meibutsu from Hokkaido including salmon and Ainu cuisine
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Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles, a Cooking manga and anime devoted to regional ramen
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Oishii Kamishama (Delicious Venus), a Cooking manga devoted to presenting tokusanhin
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Oishinbo, a Seinen manga and anime that helped launch the gourmet anime genre occasionally featured meibutsu like hōtō or Fukugawa nabe and generally championed the idea of eating fresh, organic, and local
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Omae wa Mada Gunma o Shiranai, comedy manga and anime that presents some meibutsu of Gunma including himokawa udon, yakimanju, hoshi-imo (wind dried sweet potato), and miso pan
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Yakunara Mug Cup Mo, a manga and anime promoting Mino ware and other meibutsu of Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture
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Yatogame-chan Kansatsu Nikki, comedy manga and anime that presents some meibutsu of Nagoya
Television
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Japanese Style Originator – variety show that presents meibutsu and traditional craftsman as regular segments
See also
