Kitakyushu is a major industrial city in southwestern Japan, located on the island of Kyushu, and is known for its steel and automotive industries.
Katsuobushi, a type of dried and smoked tuna that is often used to flavor dishes and is a key ingredient in dashi.
The Showa period, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, was marked by Japan's militarism and involvement in World War II.