The city of Hamamatsu was jubilant Friday as government data showed the Pacific coastal city retained the coveted mantle of “Japan’s No. 1 ‘gyoza’ dumpling city” in 2015, edging its arch-rival Utsunomiya.
Hamamatsu city officials, who gathered at the city hall ahead of the 8.30 am release of internal affairs ministry data on household spending, applauded and shouted “banzai” after confirming that households in Hamamatsu spent more on gyoza on average than those in Utsunomiya for the second year in a row.
Utsunomiya, which had long billed itself as Japan’s No. 1 dumpling city to attract foodie tourists to the city north of Tokyo, was the second biggest-spending city on the dumplings for the second straight year.
Akihiro Suzuki, secretary general of Utsunomiya Gyoza kai, a group of some 80 dumpling restaurants in the city, held his head high despite the disappointing news.
We will join hands with other regions to further gyoza culture
Suzuki, 43, pointed to the fact that a national dumpling festival will be held in Utsunomiya in May, gathering various kinds of dumplings from across the nation.