Suiton are simple hand-pulled dumplings that are cooked in a broth to form a hearty and filling meal. The dish can be found all over Japan, and in the Hachinohe Area’s local dialect, it is called hittsumi. To make the dish, wheat flour is kneaded with water to form a dough from which thin pieces are pulled off in the shape of strips or circles.  The Japanese word in the local dialect for this pulling action when tearing off the bits of the dough is said to be where the dish gets its name.

The strips or circles are then usually simmered and served in a soy sauce and vegetable-based soup. Seasonal ingredients, such as wild mushrooms, etc., are often added into the soup with the dumplings to complete the dish. Hittsumi is a dish that reflects the changing seasons and local culture of the area and is particularly nice on cold autumn days. 

One local variation of this staple, called Suiton & River Crab Soup, can be found in the town of Sannohe. The base for this dish is made by finely and painstakingly grinding down whole crabs to make an intensely flavorful stock to which the wheat dumplings are added. 

Suiton & River Crab Soup has been featured on various TV programs throughout the country and has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. The soup is a culinary experience not quite like any other in Japan, it is well worth the trip off the beaten path to find.