Protected local food
Aizu Jidori
会津地鶏
A heritage chicken from the Aizu area of Fukushima. The meat is red, fine and springy, with a rich, moist taste. The breed was saved from near extinction in 1987.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 18 March 2025
- Region
- Tohoku
- Official name in Japanese
- 会津地鶏
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 福島県会津地域（会津若松市、喜多方市、南会津郡（南会津町、下郷町、檜枝岐村、只見町）、耶麻郡（北塩原村、西会津町、磐梯町、猪苗代町）、河沼郡（会津坂下町、湯川村、柳津町）、大沼郡（会津美里町、三島町、金山町、昭和村））、福島市
A bird with a legend
The first Aizu jidori are said to have been brought to Aizu by members of the defeated Heike clan who fled there. For more than 450 years its beautiful tail feathers have decorated the lion heads of Aizu Higan Jishi, a local lion dance, and its meat was saved for celebrations.
Saved and bred again
By 1987 the breed was close to dying out, and Fukushima Prefecture stepped in to protect it. Crossing it with good meat breeds produced today's Aizu Jidori in 1991. The meat is deep red, fine and springy, rich in arachidonic acid, which adds to its flavour, and moist enough to suit almost any dish.
Good to know
- Look for Aizu Jidori ramen, yakitori and oyakodon around Aizu-Wakamatsu.
- Compare it with Hakata Jidori from Fukuoka.
Questions travellers ask
Where is Aizu Jidori raised?
In the Aizu area of western Fukushima Prefecture, including Aizu-Wakamatsu and Kitakata, and in Fukushima City.
What does it taste like?
Rich and full of umami, with moist, springy red meat.
Where it comes from
More protected foods from the same area
Crafts from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.