jingisukan

{{short description|Japanese lamb dish}}

File:Jingisukan japanese mutton barbecue.jpg

{{nihongo|Jingisukan|ジンギスカン|extra="Genghis Khan"}} is a Japanese grilled mutton dish prepared on a convex metal skillet or other grill. It is often cooked alongside beansprouts, onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers, and served with a sauce based in either soy sauce or sake. The dish is particularly popular on the northern island of Hokkaidō and in China.

History

Jingisukan, originating from the Japanese transliteration of Genghis Khan, refers to a style of grilling mutton, which is also referred to as a type of yakiniku. The dish was conceived in Hokkaidō, where it has been a popular blue-collar dish that has only recently{{when|date=August 2023}} gained nationwide popularity. The name Jingisukan is thought to have been invented by Sapporo-born Tokuzo Komai, who was inspired by the grilled mutton dishes of Northeastern Chinese cuisine. The first written mention of the dish under this name was in 1931.{{in lang|ja}} [http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/sapporokenbu/oh-sapporo/jingisukan /03.html「探偵団がたどる ジンギスカン物語」調査報告その3 ルーツを探る] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813181611/http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/sapporokenbu/oh-sapporo/jingisukan|date=2004-08-13}}, Hokkaido Shimbun, 2003/01/09.[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20060203rs.html "Ghengis Khan gets hip"], The Japan Times, Feb. 3, 2006.

In 1918, according to the plan by the Japanese government to increase the flock to one million sheep, five sheep farms were established in Japan. However, all of them were demolished except in Hokkaido (Takikawa and Tsukisamu).{{Cite web | format = PDF | title = Study on the sheep barn with gambrel roof in Takikawa sheep farm by Department of agriculture and commerce | url = https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/aijt/17/35/17_35_373/_pdf | publisher = J stage | work = AIJ J. Technol. Des | volume = 17}} Because of this, Hokkaido's residents began eating the meat from sheep that they sheared for their wool.

There is a dispute over from where the dish originated; candidates include Tokyo, Zaō Onsen, and Tōno.{{Cite web | title = なんで「遠野名物」なの? | publisher = Anbe | url = http://www.anbe.jp/sub12.htm | accessdate = 2008-06-22}} The first jingisukan dedicated restaurant was a {{nihongo |Jingisu-sō |成吉思荘 |"Genghis House"}} that opened in Tokyo in 1936.{{Cite web |title= 調査報告その3 ルーツを探る |url= http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/sapporokenbu/oh-sapporo/jingisukan/03.html |accessdate= 2008-06-22 |url-status=dead | publisher = Hokkaido NP | work = Sapporo kenbu |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071019040726/http://www5.hokkaido-np.co.jp/sapporokenbu/oh-sapporo/jingisukan/03.html |archivedate= 2007-10-19}}

Gallery

File:Smokebbqkulimkedah.jpg|Jingisukan Restaurant in Thailand

File:Genghis Khan cooking pan.jpg|Pan for Jingisukan

File:Golden Copper jingisukan.jpg|Golden Copper Pan for Jingisukan

File:Zingisukannama.jpg|Genghis Khan Nabe before being cooked

File:Sheep and cloud hill 2023-05-20(2) as.jpg|A Jingisukan dish from Shibetsu, Hokkaido

See also

References

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