“Jingisukan” is a type of barbecued mutton in Hokkaido, Japan
“Jingisukan” is the name of a Japanese mutton barbecue. It is named after the Mongolian ruler Genghis Khan (1162–1227). In 1918, the Japanese government announced a policy to raise sheep domestically in order to procure its hide for military and police uniforms. Jingisukan was invented to consume its meat at the same time. There are several stories why his name was used for this dish, and all the stories are related to the idea that Mongolian was strongly related to sheep.
In Hokkaido, an island in the northen part of Japan, raising livestock such as cattle and sheep has been popular since the Meiji period (1868-1912). Mutton is often eaten over there. In 1946, a barbecue restaurant in Sapporo city called Seiyouken started to offer “Jingisukan” as we see it today. Fresh mutton is cut into bite-size, and baked on a conical iron plate over a charcoal fire. The mutton fat drips out and collects in a pool aroud the grill. Pieces of cut-up onion are cooked in the fat, and it becomes sweeter. Jingisukan goes perfectly well with Hokkaido’s own Sapporo beer.
