Image: Wikimedia Commons
Tenmusu is a bite-sized rice ball built around a piece of small shrimp tempura, prized for the combination of tempura lightly seasoned with tentsuyu (tempura dipping sauce) or salt and fluffy steamed rice. It is said to have originated in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, where Yone Mizutani, the founding proprietress of a tempura restaurant, began tucking kuruma prawn tempura into rice balls for her husband's busy workday lunches. Around 1980, a branch of the Tsu restaurant Senju opened in Osu, Nagoya, and word of mouth among celebrities and tourists spread, and before long the dish came to be known nationwide as a 'Nagoya specialty.' Easy to eat and just the right size for one or two bites, it is also popular as a souvenir and a light snack.
Origin
Tenmusu is said to have originated in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. Yone Mizutani, the founding proprietress of a tempura restaurant, began tucking kuruma prawn tempura into rice balls so her husband, who rarely had time to sit down for a meal, could eat on the go; the idea proved popular with regular customers as well, and it is said to have been formally put on the menu around 1957.
History
Around 1980, a branch of the Tsu restaurant Senju opened in Osu, Nagoya, and visits by well-known figures led to increasing media coverage. Although its roots lie in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, the popularity of the Osu shop cemented the nationwide image of tenmusu as a 'Nagoya specialty.'
Features
The basic form is a rice ball built around a piece of small shrimp tempura. Its appeal lies in the combination of the fragrant tempura, lightly seasoned with tentsuyu or salt, and fluffy rice. It is shaped into a small size that can be eaten in one or two bites, and is typically wrapped with a strip of nori seaweed.
Main Ingredients
Food Culture
Thanks to its convenient size, tenmusu is popular with tourists for snacking while sightseeing, as a souvenir, and as a light meal for outings or train travel. It is also a staple of Nagoya's ekiben (station bento) and takeout food scene.
Famous Shops
めいふつ天むす 千寿 大須本店
愛知県名古屋市中区大須4-10-82
Founded in 1980. A pack of five tenmusu costs around 972 yen and up; primarily a takeout shop.
View details →元祖天むす めいふつ天むすの千寿（三重・津本店）
三重県津市大門
The birthplace of tenmusu. Uses small shrimp caught nearby and Koshihikari rice from the Hokuriku region.
View details →FAQ
Q. Where does the name 'tenmusu' come from?
A. It is a portmanteau of 'tempura' and 'omusubi' (rice ball). Yone Mizutani, the founding proprietress of Senju, the birthplace restaurant in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, is credited with coining the name.
Q. Did tenmusu originate in Nagoya?
A. Strictly speaking, it originated in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. The image of it as a 'Nagoya specialty' spread after a branch shop opened in Osu, Nagoya, and became popular there, but the original shop is Senju in Tsu City.