変な食べもの (Hen na tabemono) – Japanese weird food

19th March – 弥生

Just like the all countries eating different and unique food, Japan also have many food that people from other countries think its weird to eat, or looks grotesque. Some could be only eaten in Japan, so if you visit there, you should try them!

1.タコ (Octopus)

Octopus is pretty famous food for Japanese, we eat with raw or cooked. Octopus might look scary or grotesque, but it tastes amazing with ‘chewy’ texture – typical Japanese favorite texture. Sometimes Japanese eat alive ones too, this way of eating is called 踊り食い (Odori-gui), Odori means dancing.

2. ゴボウ (Burdock)

Gobou looks like a tree root so many other countries people does not eat, however it has a lot dietary fiber so very healthy. The smell and bitter tastes might surprise people if eating for the first time. Many traditional Japanese food use gobou, maybe you have already tried but did not realize?

3. 白子 (Shirako)

Do you know what Shirako is? It is actually a testis of fish! In most countries, people discard this part of fish but in Japan it is kept to eat and people love to eat this delicacy. Japanese love to eat this part with Ponzu sauce.

4. ふぐ (Fugu)

Probably you have already heard that Japanese eat this deadly poisonous fish – Blowfish. This fish can be cooked only by the people who own the license of Blowfish cooker, so don’t worry! Around one person dies every year in Japan from the Blowfish’s poison though…

5. 魚の卵 (Sakana no tamago – Fish Eggs)

This could be one of the most common delicacy gourmets in Japan. You can find たらこ (Tarako) – Walleye Pollack’s egg at anywhere at supermarket, convenience store, it is common ingredient of rice ball. Trout and almon’s egg is called いくら (Ikura) and it always be in Sushi train. Those fish eggs are very common food in Japanese dining table!

6. 牛タン (Gyuutan – Ox tongue)

Believe me that Ox tongue tastes amazing and many young generation love to eat it when they go to the BBQ place! Again, it has that particular texture of chewy, like soft bones. Many people might think it’s disgusting to eat tongue part, but it actually is edible and precious part of beef, don’t waste it.

7. 松茸 (Matsutake)

Matsutake Mushroom has strong unique smell so many people might not like it, but in Japan it is luxury food. The top-class Matsutake can cost around 7000yen (US70dollars) for one. Again and again, it has Japanese favorite texture, chewy and people appreciate that smell.

Did you surprise that Japanese eat those food?

You should try them when you come to Japan!