Fugu: Japan’s Deadly Blowfish Dish Demands Expert Chef Certification

1. Introduction

For many travelers, part of the fun of exploring the world is trying new-to-them foods that are unavailable back home. Sometimes, that means eating parts of an animal they’re not used to or chomping on insects and unfamiliar fruits. In Yamaguchi Prefecture of Japan, that could mean trying a dish that’s potentially life-threatening.

2. Fugu: Japan’s Most Dangerous Dish

Fugu (or blowfish) is by far the country’s most dangerous dish and the one that Shimonoseki is most known for. If improperly prepared, fugu can be toxic to those who consume it. Consequently, only registered chefs with special licenses can create meals with this finicky fish.

3. Historical Significance

In fact, eating fugu is so dangerous that it was outlawed in the 16th century, though many secretly kept the tradition alive. In 1887, Itō Hirobumi, the first prime minister of Japan, dined on a dish with the blowfish during a visit to the Shunpanro restaurant in Shimonoseki. He was so impressed by its flavor that he decided to lift the ban in 1888, declaring Shimonoseki the “home of fugu.”

4. Culinary Preparation

Shunpanro may have been the first restaurant in Japan to be officially licensed in preparing dishes with fugu, but many others now serve the poisonous puffer. Today, the most common preparation method involves cutting fugu into thin slices, wrapping it with spring onions, and serving it with vinegar and soy sauce. Often, the slices are cut so thin that they become transparent. Other famous dishes include fried fugu, fugu hot pot, fugu rice porridge, and hirezake (a hot sake with a grilled fugu fin).

5. More Seafood Delights

Although fugu is the main attraction in Shimonoseki, the city—and Yamaguchi Prefecture in general—is also home to many other seafood delights. The area is particularly known for its preparation of anglerfish liver, sometimes referred to as the “foie gras of the sea,” and creamy sea urchin dishes.

6. Conclusion

Japan’s gastronomic landscape offers an array of unique sensations, with fugu standing out due to its risks and rewards. Exploring such culinary adventures not only enriches the travel experience but deepens appreciation for the culture surrounding these dishes.