Protected local food
Okukuji Shamo Chicken
奥久慈しゃも
A heritage chicken from the hills of northern Ibaraki, bred from shamo gamecocks. Firm and juicy, very low in fat, with almost no chicken smell.
Key facts
- Registered as a protected name
- 27 December 2018
- Region
- Kanto
- Official name in Japanese
- 奥久慈しゃも
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 茨城県久慈郡大子町、常陸大宮市、常陸太田市、高萩市
A gentler gamecock
Shamo gamecocks have been kept in northern Ibaraki for a long time. Breeders selected calmer shamo and crossed them with Nagoya and Rhode Island Red chickens. The method was set in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and full production began in 1985.
Slow-grown on good water
With help from the prefecture and advice from chefs, local farmers raise the birds for a long time on a special low-calorie feed and clean water. The meat is firm and juicy, with very little fat, a good chew and almost no chicken odour.
How to eat it
Try shamo nabe hot pot, oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) or grilled chicken at inns and restaurants in Daigo.
Good to know
- Daigo is home to Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's best-known waterfalls. Shamo dishes are a local lunch.
- Compare with Tokyo Shamo. In Ibaraki, also try Edosaki Kabocha.
Questions travellers ask
Is Okukuji Shamo a gamecock?
It is bred from calmer shamo gamecocks crossed with Nagoya and Rhode Island Red chickens.
Where is it raised?
In Daigo, Hitachiomiya, Hitachiota and Takahagi, northern Ibaraki.
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.