Awaodori Chicken (Tokushima): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Awaodori is locally produced chicken meat, which is reddish in color, moderately chewy, low in fat, and rich in umami constituents.In Tokushima Prefecture, Awaodori is widely used from ordinary households to restaurants, and it has deeply penetrated the local food culture. It has received strong support from actual consumers across Japan, and for 20 years since fiscal 1998, Tokushima Prefecture has ranked first in Japan in terms of shipments of locally produced chicken meat.

Link with the production area

Focusing on the good-tasting characteristics of the local Akazasa-type gamecocks, Awaodori was created over a period of about 10 years through crossbreeding with superior meat chickens. The name "Awaodori" is derived from the Awaodori Festival, the traditional performing art of Tokushima Prefecture.In Tokushima Prefecture, a production system based on the long history of a thriving meat poultry industry and a quiet environment surrounded by the rich nature of the Shikoku Mountains have made it possible to produce high-quality locally produced chicken meat through small-group management.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s127.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

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These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

A heritage-breed chicken developed over about ten years from a native Tokushima gamecock, named after the traditional Awa Odori dance. Its reddish meat has a pleasant chewiness, is low in fat and rich in savory flavor, and is deeply rooted in the local food culture.

Awaodori Chicken is produced in Tokushima Prefecture.

Awaodori Chicken is shipped all year round.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Awaodori Chicken was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 31, 2023 (Registration No. 127). The registered producer group is Tokushima Prefectural Council for the Establishment of the Awaodori Chicken Brand.