About YUUHow imoni began
Imoni (taro stew) from Yamagata is said to have begun in the mid-1600s, when boatmen shared a pot on the banks of the Mogami River.
👀 At a glance
📍WhereYamagata
🕰WhenMid-1600s
🏞PlaceBanks of the Mogami River
📜 How it began
⛵
Mid-1600s
Near Nagasaki in Nakayama town, said to be the end of the Mogami River boat route, boatmen waiting for cargo to be collected shared a pot by the river. They cooked local taro with dried cod from the cargo[1]
🐄
Early Showa era
People began using beef[1]
🐖
In Shonai
On the Sea of Japan side, pork and miso flavor became the standard[1]
🍂 Imoni parties
In autumn and winter, when taro is harvested, people bring pots and ingredients to the riverbank for “imoni-kai” with family and friends. In Yamagata it’s a yearly event alongside New Year and year-end parties[1]