Abstract
This study was conducted to examine the ingredients of Zōni, a Japanese soup containing rice cakes and popular in Aichi Prefecture. In Aichi Prefecture, typical Zōni consisted of square-shaped rice cakes, favoured in eastern Japan, along with soy sauce and dried bonito flakes-based clear broth (which reflects the historical influence of the samurai society wherein people disliked miso-based broth). The ingredients of the traditional Zōni included Japanese mustard spinach (Mochina) (grown in the Owari district for good luck), minced and steamed fish (kamaboko or naruto), and dried bonito flakes. However, differences were observed between Zōni dishes in Owari and Mikawa districts. A larger amount of Japanese-style seasoning was used in Mikawa, where the proportion of working females was high. Compared to Zōni dishes in Owari, those in Mikawa contained a wider variety of local specialties as ingredients, such as Chinese cabbage, tofu, deep-fried bean curd, and carrot.
