One of my most anticipated foods of Japan I wanted to experience was also one I was the most intimated to try. This was fugu, and not just any fugu, but tora-fugu, which is called the tiger fugu. There are over 100 species of fugu in Japan and about over 20 of them are fished or farmed for consumption. Of those consumed, tora-fugu is the most prized to be eaten and the most poisonous of the edible species. The best time to eat tore-fugu is in the late autumn and winter, as the fish fatten up for the cold.
Fugu has tetrodotoxin in its eyes, skin, liver and ovaries which causes paralysis while leaving the victim conscious. Because of this, for centuries, Japan outlawed fugu from being served. Today, only strict professionals going through a decade of training can become licensed.
Continue reading “Tabemono in Tokyo – Usuki Fugu Yamadaya – I live to tell about it”