Specialties of Oita prefecture

Hello, everyone!  Today I will write specialties of Oita prefecture.

The number of the One Village One Product Movement ( OVOP ) products throughout the prefecture was 143, but 20 years later the figure had increased more than two-folds to 336.1)

This map shows specialties through the OVOP Movement in every area.

Today I will give you some quizzes. I want to introduce the specialties of the OVOP Movement with three quizzes.

< No.1 >  




The bamboo work in Beppu city

The specialties which the amount of production exceed a billion yen have seventeen products. It is White leek and Bungo beef ( Bungotakada city ), Sunqueen mandarins ( Tsukumi town ), Ooba ( Oita city ), yellowtail ( Saeki city ), dried fish ( Yonozu village ), flatfish ( Kamae town ), pear ( Hita city ), Shochu spirits ( Usa city ) and so on.

Which one is not the product which the amount of production exceed a billion yen?



A.    Barley syotyu, Nikaido ( Hiji town )

B.    Ume ( Oyama town )

C.    Bamboo work ( Beppu city )

The answer is B. Oyama town’s specialty which amount of production exceeds a billion yen is the enoki mushrooms. Ume is a famous specialty in Oyama town, but it is produced bit by bit and sold in limited areas.

< No.2 >

The specialties are not only common products to cities, towns and villages of Oita prefecture, such as Bungo beef, but also products made in the limited cities, towns and villages of Oita prefecture. For example, Seki brand horse mackerel and mackerel ( Saganoseki town ), Shiroshiitake flounder ( Hiji town ), Kuruma prawns ( Himeshima village ).



Seki brand horse mackerel and mackerel 
at departmentstore in Oita city 



Which one is not the product of the city, town, and village?

A.    Suppon in Ajimu town

B.    Dojyo in Usuki city

C.    Mamushi in Kiyokawa village

The answer is B. Usuki city facing the Beppu bay is the famous place for a blowfish.

< No.3 >

The OVOP Movement is not only specialties but also events, institutions and activities of regional community. Examples of the events, institutions and activities of regional community are Ootsunahiki (大綱引き) of Yamakuni river ( Nakatsu city ), International the bamboo raft race ( 国際竹イカダレース, Kunimi town ), Kennan comic storytelling association ( 県南落語組合, Saeki city ), Japan’s largest waterwheel ( Honjyo village ), Kujyu ice ceremony ( Kokonoe town ), University of Jiyuunomori (自由の森大学, Hita city ) and so on.

Which one is actually held a event?

A.    Eat beef and shout festival( 牛食い絶叫大会, Yuhuin town )

B.    Eat the charcoal festival( すみ食い祭り, Ume town )

C.    Drink the Doburoku festival( どぶろくはや飲み競争, Oota village )

牛食い絶叫大会　in Yuhuin town

The answer is A. This festival started in 1976 is held once a year. The participants eat beef at the barbecue party in highland of Yuhuin town. Then the participants shout the words that they have freely thought in front of the measure. A participant has shouted with the loud voice is recognized.

I will go to Oita this weekend because my friend will get marriage. Have a good weekend!

1)    Website, www.ovop.jp