About Osaka

Tsumura Honten, located in Matsubara City, Osaka Prefecture, handles everything from raising ducks to slaughtering, processing and sales. Founded in the early Meiji period, Tsumura Honten is a rare establishment, the only remaining specialist store in the Kansai region, as farms that raise ducks for meat are being weeded out. Fifth-generation owner Tsumura Yoshihiko says, "As the word 'duck' is written as 'domestic duck,' it was originally a duck that was bred to become poultry. Over many years, they have been repeatedly bred and improved."

It was Tsumura's great-grandfather who gave the name "aigamo" to the duck and popularized it among the public. Ducks are originally birds that fly through the sky and migrate to their habitats. As a result, they have strong antibodies and are less susceptible to illness. "They don't need to be given antibiotics like chickens, so you can eat them with peace of mind," says Tsumura. "They are fed pesticide-free feed and raised in a free-range environment with good ventilation. The old-fashioned method is ultimately the best way to raise birds and to provide safe meat," says Tsumura.