Official
History of Mr. Benmatsu
~ Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten~
This is the rosemary sea, which covers "gifts and I enjoy myself."
According to the "First Time Story Map" issued by the Chuo-ku Tourism Association, Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten is introduced as "the shop of the Orizume cuisine specialty store".
Click here for the last time.
This time, I would like to introduce the history of Benmatsu.
This time, we also took care of Junichi Higuchi, the eighth generation of Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten.
I took a picture in front of the store with the image at the top, half-wearing.
Then...
☆ From the opening of a restaurant Higuchiya to Benmatsu, a specialty of lunch box sales.
As you all know, from the opening of Edo to the Great Kanto Earthquake, there was a fish shore in Nihonbashi.
In the 7th year of culture (1810), Yoichi Higuchi, born in Echigo, opened a restaurant called Higuchiya on the Nihonbashi Fish Bank.
This is the beginning of "Benmatsu".
Higuchiya was reputed for his good cooking and seemed to be very prosperous.
But the people on the shores of the fish are so silly that they are too busy to have their own time.
Even if you have a meal, you may have to stand up before you finish eating everything.
So Yoichi recommended that the remaining dishes be wrapped in a sutra tree (thin wooden board: in this case wooden fold) or bamboo skin and taken home.
This attentive became even more popular, and the number of customers wishing to take home has increased.
This is the root of Benmatsu's folded lunch box.
And in the days of Takejiro, the second generation, he began selling lunch boxes wrapped in bamboo skin from the beginning.
In addition, Mr. Matsujiro, the third generation, changed from a restaurant to a specialty restaurant. This is said to be the first specialty store in Japan to sell lunch boxes.
At this time, the name of the shop was reduced by "Matsujiro of the lunch shop" and became "Benmatsu".
Therefore, Mr. Benmatsu is also published in the "Chuo-ku First Story Map" issued by the Chuo-ku Tourism Association as "the shop of the Orizume Cooking Specialty Shop".
And in the days of Takejiro, the second generation, he began selling lunch boxes wrapped in bamboo skin from the beginning.
In addition, Mr. Matsujiro, the third generation, changed from a restaurant to a specialty restaurant. This is said to be the first specialty store in Japan to sell lunch boxes.
At this time, the name of the shop was reduced by "Matsujiro of the lunch shop" and became "Benmatsu".
Therefore, Mr. Benmatsu is also published in the "Chuo-ku First Story Map" issued by the Chuo-ku Tourism Association as "the shop of the Orizume Cooking Specialty Shop".
☆ Benmatsu-san's dish arranged by Tsugumichi Saigo
Toshimichi Okubo: Former Order of the Meiji Restoration, the first Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Together with Saigo Takamori and Takayoshi Kido, they are called "the Three Greats of the Restoration."
Toshimichi Okubo was assassinated on May 14, 1878 (1878).
This is "Kioi-zaka's strangeness."
Earlier, he lost and died in Saigo Takamori and Satsuma Rebellion, who were defeated in conflict over the conquest of South Korea.
The ally, Okubo, who had already been separated, was defeated by this strange by the complainants in the aftermath.
Tsugumichi Saigo, who longed for Okubo and stayed in the government without following his brother Takamori Saigo, would have been shocked many times. But it was really cool and thin.
After hearing about this incident, Tsugumichi Saigo prepared and delivered a large box of dishes to the residence in Okubo.
This is Mr. Benmatsu's dish, for 150 people. For those who have gathered in the incident.
Speaking of the dishes and lunch boxes to deliver, Mr. Benmatsu would have been.
☆ "Dark Yui" taste passed down from the Meiji era to the present day
Sweet, spicy and dark seasoning. This is the taste of Benmatsu-san that has been handed down.
At first, it may have been a means of aiming for high calories for physical workers working on the fish shore in Nihonbashi.
And because of the nature of a lunch box, it can be considered to have a long life.
However, the lunch box, which used plenty of sugar, which was expensive at the time, seems to have been accepted not by finding it but by the high society layer.
The folding of the trees has been continued to date.
The upper part of the image is Benmatsu's advertisement. It was from 1896.
The shape has changed a little, but the lunch box from the Meiji era, the taste of Edo before that, and it is still handed down to Benmatsu-san.
After entering Mr. Benmatsu's shop, there is a wooden signboard and noren on the front.
President Higuchi said he did not hear that the signboard was probably after the war and that he escaped the raid with it. It's the eighth generation of Benmatsu.
☆ Ainosuke Kataoka, the sixth generation
On the right side of the store, the signature of Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka, and a photo taken in front of the store. Matsushima-ya, right?
Ainosuke and Benmatsu's lunch boxes are very popular.
Benmatsu of "deep taste" because he likes a clear taste.
You say it's easy to diminish the taste. But then, the taste of the tradition will be blurred.
It is said that such a change will no longer be Benmatsu's lunch.
We have a desire to continue to protect as long as there are at least one customer who likes this taste that cannot be imitated elsewhere.
☆ About the Toto Goodwill Association
As I mentioned in the article by Funasa Nihonbashi the other day, Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten is also a member of the "Toto norenkai". ・・・
President Junichi Higuchi serialized "<Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten> Junichi Higuchi's" Nihonbashi postcard surprise exhibition "" in the corner of "A little good story of a big husband" on the homepage of Toto Renkai. .
It is currently listed up to the 5th time. I heard that it will be a series of 10 to 12 times in total.
President Higuchi personally collects "old postcards of Nihonbashi" and carefully selects them to introduce them.
Please take a look at it.
Click here for the homepage of Toto Norenkai.
・・・ Next time, we will continue with an exhibition of Nihonbashi postcards collected by President Higuchi on this blog, and an interview with the president.
Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten
1-10-7, Nihonbashimuromachi
3-minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line and Ginza Line.
０３－３２７９－２３６１
Business hours Weekdays 9:30 to 15:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 9:30-12:30
Telephone reception Weekdays 8:30-16:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 8:30 to 13:00
Click here for the homepage of Nihonbashi Benmatsu Sohonten.