Bodakko is a traditional Akita term for strongly salted salmon.
When served on rice, it is called bodakko-meshi, a simple yet beloved local dish in Akita.
At first glance, bodakko-meshi may look like a joke bento, but it has long been enjoyed in the region.
It is made by placing a piece of grilled bodakko—salmon preserved with plenty of salt—on top of freshly cooked white rice.
Despite its simplicity, the dish pairs perfectly with Akita’s famously high-quality rice.
The practice of preserving salmon with heavy salt developed in northern Japan, where winters are long and harsh.
Bodakko has an intensely salty yet rich flavor, and just one piece is enough to finish an entire bowl of rice.
While bodakko itself is commonly sold at supermarkets throughout Akita, prepared bodakko-meshi bento boxes are not.
Instead, they are most often found at roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki) and local markets, making them an easy and authentic food to try while traveling in the region.
Example location:
Michi-no-Eki Shusshuetto Marche
106-1 Hanadate Jōboji, Daisen City, Akita View on Googlemaps
http://www.chouchoumaru.com/
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