Japanese Festival Food: Hashimaki

Even after many years of visiting festivals in Japan, I still occasionally come across a food that is completely new to me. And, for the record, was completely new for my born-and-bred Japanese husband too! That was the case when we spotted a stall selling hashimaki (はしまき) at the Kawagoe Festival.

At first glance, the rows of food lined up on the grill looked a little like rolled crepes, but the signs advertising toppings such as fried egg, spring onion, seared cheese, and mentaiko made me curious enough to take a closer look. Reportedly, Hashimaki is often described as a portable version of okonomiyaki. The name comes from the words hashi (chopsticks) and maki (roll), as the cooked batter is wrapped around a pair of chopsticks or a wooden stick for easy eating.

The stall I saw was selling hashimaki from 400 yen, with additional toppings available for an extra 100 yen each. Unlike a full-sized okonomiyaki, which is usually eaten with cutlery while seated, hashimaki is designed to be carried around and enjoyed while wandering through a festival. Allegedly, it is particularly popular in the Kansai region, where it has long been a matsuri favorite.