Miyazaki, a depopulated town in northern Honshu with no big supermarkets or convenience stores, is promoting its own unique version of "slow food" culture.
Behind the drive is Hideaki Miyazaki, 33, who rediscovered his hometown's food culture handed down from generation to generation after returning from Tokyo, where he studied design.
While still in Miyazaki, nestled in the mountains of northern Miyagi Prefecture, he had longed for Tokyo and Europe, and he had a negative view about his town.