"Ota x Ishii DELA LOVER" is a variety show where Bakusho Mondai's Hikari Ota and TV Host Ryoji Ishii delve into the classics of the Tokai region! This time, it's a special episode verifying viewer submissions about things in the Tokai region that were "not known that much." We thoroughly investigated little-known information about famous companies and other standard topics in the Tokai region.

Sugakiya's Su-chan has a family

The first submission is "Sugakiya's Su-chan has a family."

Su-chan, the mascot character of "Sugakiya," a soul food of the Tokai region, is like a little sister to the people of Aichi Prefecture.

When 40 people in Sakae, Nagoya, were asked, 0 people knew she had a family. However, the 41st person, a man, knew.

The program went to Sugakiya's head office in Marunouchi, Nagoya. According to Sugakiya's public relations representative, Miyaji, "She has a family of four and two pets." They sometimes appear in kids' meal toys, on the website, and on cup noodles.

Su-chan's family consists of Papa Ra, Mama Men, younger brother Pu-chan, dog U-, and cat Mya-. If you read it from the father, it becomes "Ramen Soup Umyah" (Ramen soup is delicious).

In July 2025, Sugakiya's first takeout specialty store, "Su-chan's Sweet Café," opened in Osu Shopping Street. However, it closed in April 2026. On July 28, "Dom Dom Burger" opened in its place.

Dom Dom Burger, which operates 27 stores nationwide, is Japan's first hamburger chain, opening in 1970, a year earlier than McDonald's. In the 1990s, the number of stores rapidly increased, expanding to about 400 stores nationwide. However, due to management difficulties, the number of stores decreased, and in 2016, it withdrew from Nagoya.

In January 2026, Dom Dom Burger became a group company with Sugakiya. It's a revival in Aichi Prefecture after 10 years!

Is there no one who can correctly write the Sagami logo?

The next submission is "No one can correctly write the Sagami logo."

"Washoku Menedokoro Sagami" was founded in Nagoya City in 1975 and currently operates 167 stores nationwide, mainly in the Tokai region. Its very popular "Miso Nikomi Udon" sells over 1.5 million servings annually, making it a large chain store that Aichi is proud of. Over 5,000 people nationwide enjoy the all-you-can-eat soba offered only at the end of the month.

The Sagami logo, often seen on signs and menus. Actually, writing "Sagami" in katakana is incorrect! 10 people in Sakae were asked to write it, but 0 people got it right. Even regular customers dining at Sagami, and surprisingly, even employees, couldn't write it.

The correct Sagami logo has three dots for "Ga." All logo notations on signs and menus have three dots.

According to Sagami's Yamabe, it's not simply a single character written in hiragana. The logo has been the same since its founding, and the idea of putting one more sincerity into customers is expressed by having three dots for "Ga."

Ai Otsuka has a song called "Shachihata"

The next submission is "Aiko Otsuka has a song called 'Shachihata'."

Singer Ai Otsuka, who had a big hit with "Sakuranbo" released in 2003, is from Osaka. It is said that there is a song among her works with the same name as "Shachihata," a stamp manufacturer in Nagoya.

In Sakae, 20 people who knew Otsuka and "Sakuranbo" were asked, but 0 people knew the song "Shachihata."

The program went to Shachihata's head office in Nishi Ward, Nagoya City. No employees were found who knew about it. However, when asked, Shachihata's president Funahashi immediately replied, "Yes, there is!"

"Shachihata" was the third track on a best album filled with super hit songs like "Kuroge Wagyu Joshio Tan Yaki 680 Yen" and "Planetarium." Moreover, the title was written with a capital "Ya," just like the stamp manufacturer!

The lyric sheet stated that Ai Otsuka wrote, composed, and sang the song, but there were no lyrics written. After a long 34-second intro, Otsuka's scatting of "Daba~, dadadabadadda~" began. And at the end of the song, she indeed sings "Shachihata~"!

According to President Funahashi, Otsuka's agency inquired about including a song titled "Shachihata." He said, "While thinking it was too cool for our image, I was very honored."

Otsuka commented to the program, "'Shachihata' was created in the same way as other songs, coming to mind. It was produced as it sounded in the flow of scatting."

Takowasa originated in Mie

The next submission is "Takowasa originated in Mie Prefecture."

"Takowasa" is a popular snack featuring the texture of octopus and the pungent taste of wasabi.

The program investigated at an izakaya in Mie Prefecture. Many people said they didn't know it originated in Mie Prefecture, but when they went to an izakaya specializing in seafood, the owner knew.

Takowasa was developed by Azuma Foods, a food manufacturing company in Komono Town, Mie. As a result of trial and error to develop a product using wasabi, takowasa was born in 1992.

According to Mr. Hagino and Mr. Hatanaka of Azuma Foods, who developed takowasa, it spread nationwide after being adopted by the izakaya "Shirokiya." There were many repeat customers, and many requests for business transactions started coming in.

If it smells like vinegar, will it rain?

The next submission is "People in Handa City seem to predict rain when they smell vinegar from the Mitsukan factory."

The program went to Handa City, Aichi, where Mitsukan's head office is located. When asked, most people in the city said they had never heard of it. In fact, although Mitsukan's head office is currently in Handa City, the factories that produce vinegar have been relocated to Kanto and Kansai.

The program sought out someone who knew a lot about the old days and went to Aiko, who is 100 years old.

According to Aiko, the weather forecast based on the smell of vinegar did indeed exist. This forecast was used until her son, who is now 80 years old, was a child, and the last time she heard it was about 70 years ago. Out of 51 Handa citizens asked, Aiko, who is 100 years old, was the only one who knew.

Why does it rain when it smells like vinegar? According to meteorologist Shinji Sakurazawa, it's not just a superstition but is meteorologically correct. "Before rain, humidity increases. When there is humidity, odor molecules and humidity adhere, making them more likely to stay in the area. The smell of vinegar is also likely to stay." He said that if humid wind blows from the sea, rain can be predicted.

From CBC TV "DELA LOVER" broadcast on July 29, 2026