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Creative dishes are served as Akita’s “Namahage” joins you in preparing New Year goods

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 100 views

Last updated 2026-09-25 — It’s the season to prepare New Year dishes and festive foods. This year, will your family dine out or enjoy a cozy reunion dinner at home? The Akita Prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region has brought its iconic character “Namahage” to Taiwan, along with the area’s winter dream delicacies...

It’s the season to prepare New Year dishes and festive foods. This year, will your family dine out or enjoy a cozy reunion dinner at home? The Akita Prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region has brought its iconic character “Namahage” to Taiwan, along with the area’s winter dream delicacies, all freshly air-freighted. From January 7 to 17, 2011, the Akita Products Exhibition is being held to let Taiwanese enjoy and shop for these treats, allowing every family to celebrate a New Year rich with Japanese flavor. There will also be authentic “Namahage Shrine Kagura Taiko” performances, and attendees may even win seasonal Akita honey apples as souvenirs.

Famous Namahage performance from Akita. (Photo provided by Akita Prefecture Trade Promotion Association)

Namahage is the most famous deity of the Oga Peninsula in Akita, resembling a legendary beast similar to the Nian. Believed to be the true form of a mountain god, Namahage descends from the mountains on New Year’s Eve to visit each household in search of lazy spirits. Many local performance groups wear fierce Namahage masks to act out plays symbolizing the dispelling of misfortune and evil.

At the Akita Products Exhibition held last December, the hottest item was the hot pot ingredient—Akita grilled rice stick, which almost sold out instantly. Made from Akita Komachi rice, the rice sticks absorb the flavors of the hot pot broth wonderfully. Whether simmered in satay, kimchi, spicy, or pickled pork hot pot, they’re both delicious and filling. The exhibition also sells the ideal high-quality chicken broth for cooking the grilled rice sticks, along with the Emperor’s favorite Inaniwa udon and Yokote yakisoba. With ingredients and seasonings all taken care of, it’s easy to cook up a memorable New Year’s Eve feast.

A heartwarming bowl of grilled rice stick hot pot. (Photo provided by Akita Prefecture Trade Promotion Association)

Additionally, for New Year’s gift-giving, you can’t miss delicious Japanese cookies. Traditional rice crackers “Okaki” and “Arareshi,” along with addictive twisted sweets “Karin-tou (sesame crisps),” come in rich flavors like soy sauce, sesame, and brown sugar—perfect for satisfying cravings during the New Year vigil. Even more special is the introduction of Japan’s No. 1 popular cupcake, which can be easily made using just a microwave or rice cooker, bringing sweet and happy flavors to your holiday break.

Date: January 7 (Fri) – January 17 (Mon), 2011

Time: Sundays to Thursdays 09:00–21:30

Fridays and Saturdays 09:00–22:00

Venue: Pacific SOGO Renaissance B3 City Super (300 Zhongxiao East Road, Section 3, Taipei)

Pacific SOGO Tianmu B1 City Super (77 Zhongshan North Road, Section 6, Taipei)