Following on from last time, my family and I went to Minamitaru Market again this month. It's a market with so many attractions that it's impossible to introduce them all in one post! So, please join us on this month's "Minamitaru Market Stroll."

I came across Miyabe-san holding an ICHIBA TOTE ♡

When Towako came home from school and we took her to Minamitaru Market, we bumped into Miyabe Yuriko, a friend of the market!

Miyabe, who was born and raised in a fishing family in Takashima, Otaru, is a fish expert who runs the Otaru Fish Cooking Class "Taru-koro."

I had heard that they both love markets and always buy fish there, but I never imagined that we would meet at Minamitaru Market with our ICHIBA TOTEs in hand (laughs).

My mini tote is yellow, Towako's is silver, and Miyabe's is a large blue tote. We ended up buying all three colors at Minamitaru Market ♡

Even so, as I wrote before, even when I meet acquaintances at the supermarket, I don't really end up talking to them for long, but for some reason, it's easier to chat at the market.

I wonder why that is.

I don't know the exact reason, but since it's a place to communicate with the store staff, I guess it doesn't feel out of place when customers talk to each other.

This may be the result of the inclusiveness of the market as a place.

Coffee time at the market

So, first of all, the three of us had coffee.

In the middle of Minamitaru Market is Kafusakan (an outlet coffee store), where you can not only buy beans but also enjoy freshly ground coffee at a table in the rest area.

When you want to take a break after shopping or chat with someone, it's nice to have a place inside the market where you can have a delicious coffee. There are also casually displayed old photos of the market, so you won't get bored.

And since this rest area is right in front of Aso Fresh Fish Shop, Aso-san, who found us, gave us something...

It was, of all things, "Kamome Chikuwa"! While I was surprised, thinking "Chikuwa in coffee?!", Miyabe-san and Aso-san were having a "chikuwa talk" saying, "This chikuwa is delicious, but it's not easy to find anywhere else" (laughs).

The three of us went shopping right away

After quenching our thirst with a delicious iced cafe au lait, the three of us went shopping.

By the way, Miyabe apparently decides things like, "If I'm going to buy this, I'll go to this market" or "If I'm going to buy that, I'll go to this store"!

For example, he often buys the scallops he uses in his fish cooking classes from Aiuchi Shoten, and always buys chicken tataki from Fukazawa Shoten, a meat shop. He puts it in a hot pot or makes meatballs with a sweet and spicy flavor and puts them in his lunch box.

Also, even though they sell the same meat, Kameyama Butcher Shop has been a regular since it was located in Irifune Market, and he told me, "The prices are low but the quality is good, and you can also use the Otarun Card (a points card that can be used at affiliated stores in Otaru City)!"

As expected of Miyabe-san! He's more than just a friend of the market; he's a senior at the market.

Miyabe also gathered information by casually asking about the current state of fishing at his favorite fishmonger.

He bought some boiled whelks and told me, "They're delicious in curry or oden, or stir-fried in butter with king oyster mushrooms and anchovies." Apparently, there are surprisingly few places that sell boiled whelks.

Don't forget to check out Towako!

This time, I was talking with Miyabe-san, so I left Towa-ko alone for a bit... (laughs).

Since I was familiar with walking around Minamitaru Market, I was able to find my favorite things all by myself.

First up was the stag beetles on sale at "Koki, a tableware and miscellaneous goods store." Since it was summer, there were lots of stag beetles and small-stag beetles on display! "Mom, they were selling stag beetles for 9,800 yen!" Towa-chan came to report, and her face said she wanted to buy a stag beetle, but she couldn't afford something that expensive... So she bought a female small-stag beetle, which she could afford with her pocket money. It was only 100 yen (lol).

The market isn't just about delicious food; you can also discover things like this. And another thing I discovered was "paintings." There were pictures of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba," a popular work among children, on display, and when I asked more about it, I found out that they were painted by Aso-san from Aso Fresh Fish Shop! They're so good!!! Towa-ko asked me, "How much does this sell for?", but this isn't for sale.

If you are ever at Minamitaru Market, be sure to check it out!

Continued in Vol.4

Head to the market with the "ICHIBA TOTE" in hand.

Sasaki Co., Ltd., a tent factory founded in 1945, has combined its long-cultivated sewing techniques with Otaru Department Store UNGA's passion for the market. Grab your ICHIBA TOTE, made from durable tarpaulin fabric used for outdoor construction such as tents, and head to the market!

Purchase page here ↓