High school students in this northeastern Japan city have teamed up with a local fish paste manufacturer and produced an easy-to-eat protein bar named “Kinniku Kamaboko,” or muscle “kamaboko” fish cake made from minced white fish.
Aiming to help people build muscle by consuming fish rich in protein, the protein bar, known as “Kin Kama” in English, features five flavors, including “cocoa and nuts” and “Japanese ‘shiso’ basil and crunchy pickled plum.”
Five third-year students of Yamagata Prefectural Kamo Fisheries High School from the school’s fisheries department food science course were involved in the production. The idea was sparked when they heard a senior member of the school’s sumo club suggest that processed seafood products could be used as a protein source, saying he wanted something easy to eat between club activities to help build muscle.
Starting in April last year, the students learned about the nutritional value of kamaboko from a registered dietitian, took factory tours and tried processing onboard a ship. With the cooperation of the long-established local kamaboko shop “Ryusen Takikawa,” they created prototypes for 12 different flavors. Keio University’s Institute for Advanced Biosciences located in the city also joined the project by analyzing nutritional content and other factors. In the end, they settled on five flavors, “cocoa and nuts,” “matcha and adzuki bean,” “carpaccio,” “spicy cod roe and cheese” and “Japanese ‘shiso’ basil and crunchy pickled plum.”
One of the students involved in the project said she hopes people who do not usually eat fish and the elderly will try it.
Each bar is about 11 centimeters long and 3.5 centimeters wide and is priced at 324 yen (about $2) for 60 grams. Each contains 5.52 to 8.88 grams of protein per 100 grams. The product will go on sale from May 15 at Ryusen Takikawa’s store and online shop, as well as facilities such as the Shonai Kankou Bussankan tourist and product center.
Tsuruoka
Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefectural Kamo Fisheries High School
Tsuruoka
Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefectural Kamo Fisheries High School
Keio University’s Institute for Advanced Biosciences
Ryusen Takikawa
Shonai Kankou Bussankan
Dewa Sanzan
Yamadera Temple
Related news
The mayor of Ogasawara Village has agreed to allow the national government to conduct a literature survey on “nuclear waste” at Minamitorishima.
Why are Tokyo teams so strong with consecutive runner-up finishes at the summer Koshien? Interview with the new chairman of the Tokyo High School Baseball Federation.
“Demo Calendar” Run by a Housewife – The Sentiments Behind Two Buttons
Barista with disabilities competes in skills competition: “I grew through this experience.”
