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• Introduction
  　It was a store that had always caught my eye whenever I went to the fishing tackle shop next door to buy blue sandworms for goby fishing. Unfortunately, the fishing tackle shop next door had gone out of business and the lot was now vacant; when I arrived, an excavator was roaring away… Glancing at it out of the corner of my eye, I checked the store’s name. It read Ya Hyaku Hachi.” There’s a term called jukijikun.”It’s that concept where you write tomorrow” but read it as “ashita.” The word “yaoya” (greengrocer) is probably one of the first jukujikun you learn. By changing the stroke order of those characters, you get Ya Hyaku Hachi.” I wondered if hyaku” (hundred) was read as “otte” as I opened the shop door.
  

• Thoughts
  　What surprised me was that it came with natto. It even had the usual garnishes—chopped green onions and mustard. The flavor was on the strong side. Since Hirado Sakuragi Street is right in front of me and construction is going on there year-round, this might be just the thing for guys like these. Is the rice portion a bit on the large side? The miso soup is standard. The fact that it didn’t come with cabbage—which usually accompanies ginger pork—is a big plus for an old-timer like me. Since there are relatively few places to eat in that area, this might be a good option when you’re in the neighborhood and just want to grab a quick bite. Another surprising thing was that it seemed like the food was prepared in the kitchen at the back—which they likely use as their own living space. There’s a tebo hanging inside the counter, so it looks like they could cook there…
  

No cashless payments accepted; cash only.