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The yakiniku place Haruru returns to in Aichi: 白頭山

Some meals become part of the pleasure of returning to a place. For Haruru, a trip to Aichi often brings a visit to the yakiniku restaurant 白頭山. Years apart, her notes return to the same feeling: she is glad to be eating there again.

Personal accounts shared in September 2017, March 2024 and August 2024. These are memories of separate visits, rather than a description of the restaurant's current menu or prices.

A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes

In her September 2017 account, Haruru described 白頭山 as a restaurant she returned to when she came to Aichi. She had enjoyed that day's meal, and the photos show plates of meat ready for the grill, followed by vegetables and seaweed piled over rice and a red bowl of soup.

Her notes include the names kalbi, harami, beef tongue, beef offal, beef liver, bibimbap and yukgaejang soup. Among the pictures of those dishes is a close view of meat cooking on the grill.

A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph
A favourite already appearing in her 2017 notes — Haruru’s photograph

Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024

By her March 2024 account, Haruru was again looking forward to 白頭山 on a return to Aichi. The first photo shows the restaurant sign, with 焼肉 and 白頭山 clearly visible above the entrance.

She enjoyed a generous meal and still felt that this was her favourite choice. The pictures move from plates of marbled meat and other dishes to the food cooking on the round grill. Her affection for the place is the thread connecting this visit with her earlier one.

Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph
Back at 白頭山 in spring 2024 — Haruru’s photograph

Another meat-filled evening in summer

In the account she shared in August 2024, dinner was once again at 白頭山. She had already eaten meat at lunch, but found herself quite ready for another meal of it that evening.

The photos show several different plates and meat cooking over the glowing heat. Haruru also remembered leaving with the smell of yakiniku on her clothes. It was a detail from that evening, and part of the atmosphere she recorded alongside the food.

Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph
Another meat-filled evening in summer — Haruru’s photograph

A separate treat in the spring notes: delivered oysters

At the end of the spring account, the food changes. Haruru had wanted to enjoy oysters and ordered a kilogram of shucked oysters from 寺本水産. She found the amount satisfyingly substantial.

The last photo shows the oysters in a red colander, with a leaflet in front. This separate delivery was another food pleasure in her spring notes.

A separate treat in the spring notes: delivered oysters — Haruru’s photograph

Sources for this account

Haruru's personal accounts from 2017 and 2024, edited and shared with her permission.