Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Iyo, Ehime

Nori and bonito-flake rice topping

From: A seaside station and slow time in Futami

A pack of nori and bonito-flake rice topping
A pack of nori and bonito-flake rice topping

The rice topping used at breakfast, a mix of nori and bonito flakes. The pack is labeled as a fishing-town nori rice, a fishermen's staff meal, made in Japan.

This moment in the journey

A fisherman's breakfast by the sea

When I come to a fishing village, this is what I want for breakfast. I chopped some green onions and sprinkled a mix of nori and bonito flakes over a bowl of rice, then laid slices of white fish, marinated in soy sauce, on top.

I slid the door open and carried the tray out to the terrace. From a teapot I poured plenty of hot dashi over the bowl, scattered the green onions and stirred it with my chopsticks: a fisherman's breakfast of rice in broth.

Standing at the edge of the terrace, I had the calm sea right in front of me. I sat down and ate slowly, looking out at the water. Beside the kitchen stood a wood stove.

Watch this scene on YouTube0:28

Read this scene in the full journey

Chopping green onions on a cutting board
Chopping green onions on a cutting board
Rice topped with nori and marinated fish in a bowl
Rice topped with nori and marinated fish in a bowl
Stepping out through the door onto the terrace
Stepping out through the door onto the terrace
Pouring dashi from a teapot into a green bowl
Pouring dashi from a teapot into a green bowl
Dashi poured over rice topped with fish and green onions
Dashi poured over rice topped with fish and green onions
Stirring the bowl with chopsticks beside the teapot
Stirring the bowl with chopsticks beside the teapot
Setting the teapot down on the tray
Setting the teapot down on the tray
Standing at the edge of the terrace, looking at the sea
Standing at the edge of the terrace, looking at the sea