Nagano Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1) Kikusui Brewery-Saru Kura no Izumi Junmai Ginjo

May 12, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this one cup sake from Nagano Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This particular sake brewed by Kikusui Brewery has been made famous by its character doll!

It represents a kind of teddy bear with its head inside an apple bonnet and with a rucksack!

But the name of the sake is a it unrelated as “Saru Kura no Izumi” means “Monkey Brewery Water Spring”!

Rice: nagano sake rice
Rice milled down to 55%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Strong and fruity: apple compote, faint mandarin oranges
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up by some junmai petillant.
More complex than expected.
Apple compote, mandarin oranges, macadamia nuts, custard.
lingers for a little while on palate before departing on an even drier note with hins of greens, melon. Late appearance of dark chocolate and coffee beans.
Varies little with but for a momentary drier note.

Overall: More complex and elegant than expected.
For lovers of dry but fruity sake.
Eminently enjoyable slightly chilled on its own.
Pairs up with any light starters . Great with cheese, too!

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So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Mishima City, Shop Signs, Tourism

Shop Signs Revival in Mishima City!

May 12, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

Women Fashion shop Sign!

Mishima City, after a long dormancy following the bubble era seems to steadily enter a new era with new restaurants, bars and shops to cater for an increasing touristic clientele thanks to the nearby Mount Fuji and many more attractions.
It is a city where, if you keep one eye on the pavement and anther above head, you can make some interesting discoveries!
The latest one for my part is a single side of a single street lined up with a series of shop signs, some directly inspired by many found in Europe displayed in obvious cooperation!
let me show them:

Knitting shop!

Japanese craft shop!

Fashion handbag shop!

Art gallery!

Miscellaneous Boutique!

Liquor shop!

Another Art Gallery!

Bedroom ware shop!

Traditional Japanese cake shop!

Japanese restaurant?

Still looking!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Mishima City, Shinto Shrines, Shizuoka Tourism

Mishima Taisha Shrine (三島大社) 1)

May 12, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

One of the venerated trees inside Mishima Tasiha!

Mishima Taisha/Mishima Great Shrine in the City of Mishima is one oone of the 3~4 biggest and most important Shinto shrines in Shizuoka Prefecture and it is simply too vast and comprising too many other shrines to be described i a single article.
This the first of a series of reports as I plan to visit Mishima City many times again in the near future and take the opportunities to discover other aspects and sights!

The main portal with its enormous “shimenawa/rice straw garland”!

The big mouth-shut “komainu or shishi/lion guard” past the main entrance!

And its companion with its mouth open!

One of the main small shrines find in the precincts, this particular one called “Shima Jinja” at the end of a small bridge crossing one of the many ponds!

A large roof pinion!

A large roofed hand washing stone basin!

Another large inner portal!

Th Horse is the main feature animal symbol in Mishima Taisha!

Ancient horse painting!

The “haiden hall” for the public and worshippers!

Splendid gilded pinions!

One of the big “baku/nightmare eaters”!

An ancient “ishidourou/stone lantern”!

See you again there very soon!

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Hokkaido, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Hokkaido Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 1)Takasago Brewery-The Zoo-tto Asahiyama Set Junmai

May 11, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

From one side!

The other day once again thanks to her husband, my good friend Atsuko Kurata offered me this 3 one cup sake set from Hokkaido Prefecture as part of a batch of no less than 8 cups from 6 different Prefectures!
This set of three one-cup sake is from Hokkaido by Takasago Brewery!

From the other side!

That particular set is part of a souvenir package to promote the Zoo in Asahiyama!

Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in January 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: discreet. Rice, chestnuts
Body: Fluid
Taste: soft and dry attack backed up with some junmai petillant.
Custard, macadamia nuts, chestnuts.
Lingers only for short while before departing on a slightly mellower note with hints of coffee and greens.
Changes little with food but for a slight turn to sweetness.

Overall: A straightforward sake better fit to enjoy with food.
Very easy to drink.
Will please anybody with a traditional Japanese meal!

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Fujinomiya City, sake, Sake Brewery

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Fuurin no Sasayaki Junmai Ginjo (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

May 10, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

I don’t mind repeating it all the time but I prefer conducting sake tastings in the right environment but not many places are propitious for that exercise or willing to help.
But La Sommeliere in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City is certainly becoming a habit as not only I can conduct my tasting in the best conditions possible but also exchange views at the same time!

This time I tasted a remarkable sake brewed in Fujinomiya City!

“Fuurin no sasayaki/The Murmur of Summer Wind Bell” Junmai Ginjyo by Fujinishiki Brewery!
It is sold for a reasonable 630 yen for a 300 ml bottle at la Sommeliere!

Rice: Yamada Nishiki (HYogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 55%
Yeast: No 1401
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Dryness: + 4.4
Acidity: 1.5
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Light golden hue
Aroma: Dry and mineral. Salt, algae (konbu), Japanese parsley (seri), greens
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and complex attack backed by a little of junmai petillant.
Green coffee beans, dry cacao, lime, algae (konbu).
Lingers only for a little while before departing with hints of mandarin oranges and green Japanese plums (ume)
Coffee beans come strongly with the rise in temperature.

Overall: Unusual sake for Fujinishiki Brewery
Obviously conceived for summer drinking and eating.
Would be perfect with sushi and oysters.
Also beautifully pairs with raw bonito (katsuo), cold pork shabu shabu (reishabu), raw seabream marinated with seaweed (tai konbujime), green leaves tempura and buckwheat noodles (soba).
Probably best appreciated chilled first and left to warm up gradually to room temperature.
Deserves extra attention!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00 (~20:00 on Sundays and Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking!
FACEBOOK

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Craft Beer, Shizuoka

Shizuoka Beer Tasting: Aoi Brewing-Subtle IPA

May 9, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Aoi Brewing Co. in Shizuoka City is about to come with quite a few new brews for the summer and it will be a scramble to taste them all!
Here is the first one!

Subtle IPA!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Crystal Malt, Munich malt, Australia Galaxy hop, Kent Holding hop, Belgian strong ale yeast
Unfiltered
Alcohol: 6~7%
Bubbles: fine bubbles.Longish head. Creamy. White
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: Deep orange color
Aroma: Refreshing and dry. Bread
Taste: Refreshing attack with plenty of body.
Bread, oranges, orange peels, Hints of biscuits. A little welcome acidity

Overall: A very solid and reliable IPA craft beer!
Very satisfying. Another improvement on an already excellent craft IPA beer!
Eminently enjoyable on its own, but would pair beautifully with pork meat!

Beer Junkie MOTEL

420-0035 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Shichiken Cho, 11-5, IMAKKOKO Bldg. 1F
Tel.: 054-253-6558
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00, 17:00~26:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Parties welcome
FACEBOOK

BEER GARAGE

Aoi Brewing Co.,Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyagasaki Chyo, 30
Tel.: 054-294-8911
Opening hours: 17:00~23:00 (Monday~Friday), 15:00~23:00 (Saturday), 15:00~22:00 (Sunday)
Closed on Tuesdays
COD, Cash On Delivery only for all orders.
MAP
FACEBOOK

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK
FACEBOOK

Some Aoi beers are also available at Aoi Brewery’s restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely

GROWSTOCK

420-0852 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Koyamachi Naka Building, 5F
Tel.: 054-293-9331
Opening hours: 17:00~25:00 (Mon.~Thurs.), 17:00~27:00 (Fri & Sat.), 17:00~24:00 (Sun.)
Parties welcome (reserve!)
Credit Cards OK
FACEBOOK

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One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 6)-Hana No Mai Brewery, Hana no Mai Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji

May 5, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

After an interlude to introduce the new Shidaizumi One Cup Sake I can at last complete the first batch of 5 one cup sake from Shizuoka Prefecture before thinking about the next one!

This time it is one brew by Hana No Mai Brewery in Hamamatsu City!

They are always keen to advertise Shizuoka Prefecture gastronomy and Mount Fuji!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka Prefecture-grown)
Rice milled down to 60%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled on February 23rd, 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Raisins.
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry and fruity attack backed up with a little junmai petillant.
Raisins, nuts, mandarin oranges, custard.
Lingers only for a little while before departing with more dry mandarin oranges.
Varies little with food but for the appearance of dry chocolate and chestnuts.
Tends to become more complex when drunk with food.

Overall: Unusual sake for Hana no Mai Brewery. More complex than expected.
Elegant enough to be enjoyed on its own slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Would happily marry with any starters and cheese.

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One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 5)-Makino Brewery, Fujisan Honjozo

May 3, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Continuing hopefully a long series of one cup sake from Shizuoka Prefecture, the sixth brew was concocted by Makino Brewery in Fujinomiya City: Fujisan Honjozo!

Incidentally only Makino Brewery in Shizuoka Prefecture and another in Yamanashi Prefecture have the right to use the word “Fujisan/富士山” as sake brand! They even share identical design labels!

Mount Fuji Symbol!

Rice milled down to 70%
Alcohol: 15 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Assertive. Dry. rice, coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: very dry attack backed with pleasant alcohol.
Coffee beans, apples.
Lingers only for a while before departing with hints of nuts and dark chocolate.
Takes on a slightly mellower note with food before quickly returning to very dry first impressions.

Overall: Solid and straightforward sake with a reliable and dry approach.
Obviously conceived to marry with food, izakaya fare in particular, but dry sake lovers will appreciate it on its own at all temperatures.
I personally enjoyed it slightly chilled with cheese!

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Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 5) Suehiro Brewery-Dr. Noguchi Cup

May 2, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

The other day thanks to her husband, my good friend offered me this 5 one cup sake set from Fukushima Prefecture!
Today, continuing my break from the Shizuoka Prefecture one cup sake I sampled a one cup sake by Suehiro Brewery!

Called “Dr. Noguchi Cup”! very probably a junmai!

Dryness: + 1.5~2.5
Acidity: 1.2~1.4
Yeast: Suehiro yeast (T-1) + No 701
Amino acids: 1.0~1.2
Moromi/mash: 25~27
Sakekasu/white lees: 23
Alcohol;: 1516 degrees
Bottled in February 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: light golden hue
Aroma: Assertive and fruity. Rice, coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: Assertive, dry and fruity attack backed up with pleasant alcohol and strong junmai petilleant.
Complex: Coffee beans, almonds, dry custard, yoghurt
Lingers for a while before departing with more coffee beans and chestnuts
Stays true to first impressions all the way through.
Hints of dark chocolate, banana and mandarin oranges coming late amid strong coffee beans.
Drier than expected.
Changes little with food but for a drier note.

Overall: Surprisingly interesting and more complex than expected.
Definitely for dry sake lovers in spite of its low dryness.
Should marry well with any food, izakaya heavy fare in particular as well as cheese!
Definitely worth a try!

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One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: One-Cup Series 4)-Shidaizumi Brewery, Nyan Cup Fujieda Junmai Ginjo Homarefuji

April 29, 2015 dragonlife 1 Comment

A very interesting and reasonable way to taste sake is to acquire one-cup sake!
They also make for cute collection of glasses or cups!

Shidaizumi Brewery in Fujieda City has gathered fame all over Japan for their Nyan Cup/Kitten Cup design, a registered mark, both for sake (black and grey) and umeshu (green and colored).
They have just put out a new one to make the City of Fujieda all over Japan and beyond and remind everyone that the first-ever soccer game was played there!

The design shows Mount Fuji but “Fujieda” actually means “wisteria branch”, hence the symbol color of the city.
The cats are three, with one female bearing the number “12”!

She is flanked by two male soccer-playing cats bearing the number “11”,..

and “10”!

Rice: Homarefuji (Shizuoka-grown)
Rice milled down to 55%
Bottled in April 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. Rice, pears
Body: fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack backed by junmai petillant and strong alcohol.
Complex and elusive: apricots, coffee beans, dry dark chocolate, nuts.
Disappears quickly on drier note of dark chocolate.
Stays true to first impressions all the time.
Varies little with food but for a slightly mellower note.
Coffee beans tend to make a strong comeback with every sip.

Overall: thoroughly enjoyable sake.
Great o its own but happily marries with food, particularly cheese, eggs and vegetable stews.
Definitely more elegant in spite of its dryness than expected.
Just too good for soccer players, a sake for rugbymen!

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Craft Beer, Japanese Beer, Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Craft Beer : Kuraya-Narusawa Brewery-Hansharo 18th Anniversary Minimal Bitter

April 29, 2015 dragonlife 2 Comments

AOI BEER STAND owned by Aoi Brewery in Miyuki Cho, Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, has the merit to offer on tap other craft beers from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan, but you do have to hurry as they usually served only one keg before switching to another brew!

This time I had the occasion to sample a very limited edition to commemorate the 18th year of existence of Kuraya Narusawa Brewery in Nirayama, Northern Izu peninsula, Shizuoka prefecture called Minimal Bitter!

Actually it was a triple whammy as I had no less than 3 glasses, the second one with homemade lamb gyoza/dumplings!

And the third glass accompanied a delicacy difficult to get super fresh and raw outside Shizuoka prefecture: shirasu/sardine whiting and sakuraebi/cherry shrimps!

Served on tap
Barley, Maris Otter malt, Crystal malt, First Gold hop, live yeast.
Unfiltered
Alcohol/ABV: 3.5 %
Bubbles: very fine bubbles. Longish head. Creamy. Light orange color
Clarity: slightly smoky (normal considering live yeast and being unfiltered), very clean
Color: deep orange
Aroma: dry and fruity. Biscuits
Taste: Refreshing and dry attack. Bread, biscuits.
Ordinary bitter style craft beer.
A little acidity popping up late.
varies little with food.

Overall: very refreshing and solid.
Great for a warm afternoon.
Although eminently enjoyable on its own, makes for a perfect marriage with food, especially meats, BBQ, etc. Great with seafood, too!

AOI BEER STAND
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 4-6, Den Bill, 1F
Tel.: 054-260-5203
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Credit cards OK

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Fukushima Prefecture, One Cup sake, sake, Sake Brewery

Fukushima Sake Tasting: One Cup Series 4): Kokken Brewery-Kokken Honjozo

April 25, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Simply called Kokken for a Honjozo!

Rice milled down to 65%
Alcohol: 15~16 degrees
Bottled in march 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: Light and dry. Fruity. Coffee beans
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack backed with pleasant alcohol.
Fruity. Strong coffee beans, almonds and hints of dark chocolate and custard.
Lingers on for a little while before before departing on a drier note with more coffee beans and custard.
Varies little with food but for a drier note.
Drinks very easily.

Overall: Surprisingly very pleasant for such a humble sake!
Very easy to drink and pleasant on the palate.
Although obviously conceived to be drunk with food, emnienntly enjoyable on its own.
Would pair well with heavy izakaya fare, but personally enjoyed it with cheese and biscuits!

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Bars, Izakaya, Shizuoka City

Bar-Izakaya: Two Base in Shizuoka City!

April 25, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: a bit shy but very friendly
Equipment & facilities: overall very clean. Excellent washroom if a bit small
Prices: Reasonable~slightly expensive
Strong points: Great list of sake. Stand bar with seats on pavement

Just discovered a new bar cum izakaya cum standing bar in an unusual location at the very crossing of Egawa Street and Showa Street!

The place is called “Two base”, not because of baseball but because it is the sister bar of another place called KODONA!
The concept is quite practical with the possibility to sit or stand at the counter or at a table on the pavement!

Looking at the small refrigerator at the entrance you soon find out that sake is a staple there!

Have a good look at the board outside before entering!

The bar which Manager Yoshimi Mochizuki/望月良美さん also calls an izakaya offers quite a nice ever-increasing range of sake from the whole country!

But it does offer more including shochu from Shizuoka Prefecture!

And don’t worry, there are also plenty of snacks!

Now, what did I have for my first visit?

A celebrated sake from Oomuraya Brewery in Shimada City: “Onna Nake/making a woman cry” junmai daiginjo!

But I couldn’t take my leave before sampling this exquisite junmai ginjo by Ippaku Suisei Brewery from Akita Prefecture!

lright, you understood this is only the start of another long story! LOL

TWO BASE

Manager: Yoshimi Mochizuki/望月良美さん
420-0033 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Showa Cho, 8-1
Tel.: 054-221-8300
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00 (and beyond!)

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sake, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka City

Shizuoka Sake Tasting: Sanwa Brewery-Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama (conducted at La Sommeliere in Shizuoka City)

April 23, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

This time I tasted another great brew by Sanwa Brewery in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka, with one of their longest names:
Garyubai Kaibinjyuuri Kaoru Junmai Daiginjo Genshu Aiyama!

Rice: Aiyama (Hyogo Prefecture)
Rice milled down to 40%
Alcohol: 16~17 degrees
Dryness: + 4
Acidity: 1.2
Bottled in March 2015

Clarity: very clear
Color: Faint golden hue
Aroma: assertive, dry and fruity. Green apples, banana, apricots, compote, marshmallows
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Strong, dry and very fruity attack backed up with puissant junmai petillant and pleasant alcohol.
Well-rounded but extremely complex.
Macadamia nuts, mandarin oranges, custard, green apples, walnuts.
Elegant for such a strong alcohol content.
Lingers for a short while on the palate before departing on fruity and slightly drier notes with hints of dark chocolate.
Late appearance of coffee beans.

Overall: Just a word to describe such a nectar: “superb”!
A sake that combines elegance and power. Very assertive.
Sweeter than the indicated + 4 dryness due to its great fruitiness.
Eminently enjoyable on its but would brilliantly marry with shellfish and cheese!
A discovery!

LA SOMMELIERE

420-0857 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Miyuki Cho, 7-5, Aiseido Bldg, 1F
Tel. & Fax: 054-266-5085
Opening hours: 11:00~22:00 (~20:00 on Sundays and Holidays)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Fish, Japanese Gastronomy, Tiger Puffer

Japanese Fish Species 24: Torafugu/Tiger Puffer

April 21, 2015 dragonlife Leave a comment

Torafugu or Tiger Puffer is one of more than a 100 hundred varieties of edible Puffer Fish or Globe Fish, but Tiger Puffer is by a great distance the most popular variety in Japan!

It is also known in Japanese as Honfugu/本河豚 or Oofugu/大河豚.
The main season is Winter and a little later for other regions.
It is caught on both sides of Japan especially in Central and East Japan.
It is a specialty in Hamamatsu in our Shizuoka Prefecture.

11,000 tonnes are caught yearly around Japan.
It is bred in Japan to the tune of 4,700 tonnes.
13,000 tonnes are mainly imported from China and South Korea.

In Japan, although it can be bought already dressed, one needs a special license to cut it, serve it, or sell it as the innards contain a violently lethal poison, although cheap fugu (not torafugu) does not always contain such toxin!