Photo/Illutration A plate of Hamamatsu-style gyoza dumplings with a thin, crispy layer is served in a restaurant in the city’s Naka Ward. (Tomohiro Yamamoto)

Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture was the nation’s top consumer of gyoza dumplings in 2024 for the second year in a row, beating Miyazaki and Utsunomiya, a survey showed.

The survey by the internal affairs ministry’s family income and expenditure survey released Feb. 7 found that households of two or more people in Hamamatsu spent an average of 4,066 yen ($26.80) on takeout gyoza.

Miyazaki came in second at 3,517 yen, while Utsunomiya ranked third at 2,801 yen.

The three cities ranked in the same order in 2023. They have been battling for supremacy for years.

The survey involving Tokyo’s 23 wards, prefectural capitals and other major cities covered gyoza bought for takeout. Frozen dumplings and gyoza dishes consumed in restaurants were excluded.

Surveys such as this can prove hugely beneficial to a municipality promoting local specialties and delicacies.

Hamamatsu-style gyoza soul food is increasingly gaining nationwide recognition.

In other food-related developments, Niigata has been trying to oust Yamagata as the nation’s top spender on ramen and other Chinese noodle dishes consumed in restaurants.

Yamagata secured the No. 1 spot for three straight years in 2024 with spending of 22,389 yen per household.

Niigata toppled its archrival in 2021 and finished second for three straight years in 2024 at 16,292 yen.

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