Shirodashi Day (Shirodashi no Hi)

What Is Shirodashi Day?

July 29 is "Shirodashi Day," established by Shichifuku Jozo Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of shirodashi. The date comes from a wordplay on the company name "Shichifuku," read as "hi-chi (7) fu (2) ku (9)." Based in Anjō, Aichi Prefecture, the company was the first to make and sell "shirodashi," a seasoning of white soy sauce blended with dashi, in 1978.

Why Is July 29 "Shirodashi Day"?

Shirodashi is a seasoning that combines pale white soy sauce (shiro shōyu) and other ingredients with dashi made from bonito, kelp, and the like, prized for adding flavor to dishes without darkening their color. Shichifuku Jozo, which first commercialized it, chose July 29 through a play on its company name.

• Wordplay: The company name read as "hi-chi (7) fu (2) ku (9)."
• 1978: Shichifuku Jozo became the first to make and sell shirodashi.
• Established by Shichifuku Jozo: An anniversary aimed at spreading the appeal of shirodashi.
• A new staple in Japanese cooking: A popular seasoning that makes it easy to enjoy the flavor of dashi.

What Is Shirodashi?

Shirodashi is an all-purpose seasoning that combines the umami of dashi with a balanced blend of seasonings. Because of its light color, it's ideal for dishes where you want to preserve the natural color of the ingredients.

• Preserves ingredient color: Perfect for chawanmushi (savory egg custard), dashi-rolled omelets, and simmered dishes.
• Rich umami: Concentrated dashi from bonito, kelp, shiitake mushroom, and more.
• Use diluted: Typically diluted with water depending on the dish.

Fun Facts About Shirodashi Day

• The original shirodashi: Shichifuku Jozo's signature product is "Tokusen Ryotei Shirodashi."
• White soy sauce culture: Hekinan City in Aichi Prefecture is said to be the birthplace of white soy sauce, and the surrounding Mikawa area, including neighboring Anjō, is known for producing it.
• An all-purpose seasoning: Works not just in Japanese cooking, but in Western and Chinese dishes too.
• Helps with reducing salt: The umami of dashi makes it possible to use less salt overall.

How to Enjoy Shirodashi Day

• Try cooking with shirodashi (chawanmushi, udon, simmered dishes, and more).
• Compare the flavors of different brands of shirodashi.
• Look into the culture of dashi and the history of white soy sauce.
• Incorporate shirodashi into your everyday cooking and notice how it changes the flavor.

One Drop Transforms a Dish — the Magic of Japanese Umami

July 29's "Shirodashi Day" is a day to rediscover the appeal of dashi culture. Easy to use yet capable of adding deep flavor, shirodashi is worth bringing into your everyday cooking.