This is the Koikeya Pride Potato Nihon no Kamiwaza Kumamoto Akaushi Teppanyaki Wasabi Shōyu, a part of the ‘Kumamoto Red’ brand developed by the prefecture to promote products made from Kumamoto’s agricultural, forestry, and fishery resources. Kumamoto has been known as the ‘Land of Fire’ since ancient times due to its its Aso region, which is nurtured within one of the world’s largest calderas, owing to its abundant natural resources, unique topography, and favorable climate.
These chips feature akaushi, or red cows, which are raised in Kumamoto’s Aso region. They have been registered under Japan’s geographical indication system since 2018.
Following the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, Kumamoto Prefecture has been actively engaged in the process of creative reconstruction, with the aim of shaping a ‘new Kumamoto’. Among their objectives is to seek World Cultural Heritage Site status for Aso. For each bag of this product sold, Koikeya will donate 1 yen to Kumamoto Prefecture to support its efforts toward having Aso recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
These chips are coated in a finely ground black and brown seasoning, with a rich smoky beef flavour.
The intensity of the smokiness was evident right from the first bite, and it evolved into a deeply umami-rich beefy taste, with a pronounced soy sauce savouriness emerging by mid-bite. Simultaneously, a subtle tingle of wasabi made its presence known from the start and gradually intensified, bringing with it the distinctive wasabi flavour, complemented by a hint of sweetness and a gentle heat that lingered into the finish. These chips were exceptionally delightful, as the individual components—smoke, beef, soy sauce, and wasabi—came through with layered complexity that continued to develop even in the aftertaste. We would gladly enjoy these chips again without hesitation.
This Koikeya Pride Potato Nihon no Kamiwaza Kumamoto Akaushi Teppanyaki Wasabi Shōyu contained 53. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2023.