The manhole cover of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi shows a Fugu, a Pufferfish. Famous as an expensive and very poisonous delicacy in Japan, it is illegal to eat in Europe and other countries.
Every year in Japan people die from eating improperly prepared fugu.
The Karato Fish Market in Shimonoseki is where most Fugu in Japan is sold. A lot of fugu now is farmed, and they have even developed a completely non-toxic strain.
The fish market also sells a little whale meat, though it might be dolphin as research has shown that up to a third of all whale meat sold in Japan is mislabelled dolphin meat.
Its not a great shot, but this shows some fugu in their natural habitat. When we visited the Kaga no Kukedo the boatman threw some food into the water by the boat for them.
I tried fugu a couple of times and found it nothing to write home about. Not especially tasty, and certainly not worth the high price it is sold for.
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I like the photo of the Fugu feeding, very surreal.I also cannot justify the pricing of Fugu as a meal, here in Australia, our puffer fish are fed to the gulls when caught or used as bait.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am Sherrie Roberts, celebrating my Country's Independence Day. It is July 4, 2011. But I looking through my feedburner and saw the Fugu Fish. I have always suspected it is like Absinth - alcohol. Not worth the trouble and better left in the Sea. Absinth should be left as the herb, Artemisia absinthium or "Grande Woodworm", the "la fée verte" should be left in the Fairy World.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the photos. Now, I will definitely have to post again. It is a beautiful day to do so. Thank-you so much for the inspiration.