This may look like a joke bento, but it is a traditional and beloved meal in Akita. Bodakko-meshi is made by placing a piece of strongly salted and grilled salmon—called bodakko in the local dialect—on top of freshly cooked white rice. It is simple, yet it pairs perfectly with Akita’s famously delicious rice.
320_ぼたっこ飯
Bodakko is salmon preserved with plenty of salt, a method that developed in northern Japan where winters are harsh. The flavor is intensely salty but rich, and just one piece is enough to finish an entire bowl of rice.
While bodakko itself is commonly sold at supermarkets in Akita, the prepared “bodakko-meshi” bento is not usually found there. Instead, it is mostly available at roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki) and local markets, making it an easy food to try during your travels.
Example location:
Michi-no-Eki Shusshuetto Marche
106-1 Hanadate Jōboji, Daisen City, Akita View on Googlemaps
http://www.chouchoumaru.com/