The Sinister Blowfish

Swimming through the tank
He dreams of being caught and
Poisoning the chef

Source

This is listed as one of those things I just had to do before I die. Well, hoping not exactly right before I die but a little way before allowing me to live and share my experience in the least – eat some deadly blowfish.

I first read about the fish and the art of risking one’s life in eating it in some National Geographic magazine we had when I was kid. Fugu it was called and was a delicacy found in Japan. Fugu was of such high praise that the Japanese pay millions of yen a year and actually endanger their very lives to eat it.  They knew of the impending peril and even inspired haikus such as (translated):

“I cannot see her tonight
I have to give her up
So I will eat fugu”

- Yosa Buson (1716-1783)

and

“Last night he and I ate fugu,
Today I help carry his coffin”

- Anonymous

and such maxims as

“To throw away life, eat blowfish.”

but still ate fugu anyway.  I became very intrigued with what was with fugu that was just  to die for. I swore to taste some before I die. Again, hopefully not exactly right before I die.

Being an expat to Japan, I had a lot of opportunity asking friends around how fugu was like. Unfortunately, the  fugu reviews of my friends were mostly underwhelming – the fish was bland and well, they didn’t die However, the thought of playing Russian roulette with fugu still has its pull on me, so when my friend, Justin invited me for some fugu dinner, I gave a definite yes

Fugu Dinner Buddies

Clockwise: Koike-san, Justin, Tha, Jem

We went to this fugu specialty restaurant in Chofu-shi called とらふぐ (to-ra-fu-gu: tiger blowfish). Apparently とらふぐ has a lot of branches and was quite popular which made our choice rather safe and lessened the odds of our premature deaths

とらふぐ　(To-ra-fu-gu) or Tiger Blowfish

Fugu was a bit pricey compared to an ordinary Japanese dinner-out meal but it wasn’t as pricey as I had expected. I was expecting to spend more than 10,000 yen (~$100) for my fugu dinner as most western websites I’ve read said it would cost an arm and a leg but it only cost me around 5,000 yen. However, I think 5000 yen is  still freaking  expensive given that it might already cost you your life

Justin spent the most  among us since he was also the bravest to try some 白子 (shirako) or Fugu sperm sac. Well, he didn’t know what he ate  until he got home and searched it in the internet though

7,380 Yen for a Fish?!

Most of us ordered the fugu 6-course meal which included 皮刺し (torafugu skin sashimi)、とらふぐ刺し身 (torafugu sashimi) 、とらふぐなべ (torafugu nabe)、なべ皮 (torafugu skin nabe) and 雑炊 (rice gruel).

Before actually going to the restaurant I did a couple of research and found that one fugu has enough Tetrodotoxin (pufferfish poison) to kill 30 people. Tetrodotoxin is 100 times deadlier than cyanide and is 160,000 times more potent than cocaine. Tetrodotoxin is also used in the voodoo art of zombification and causes nerve paralysis which can lead to a very painful death via aphyxiation. Some 14 people died from fugu between 2002 and 2006 and in 1975, fugu liver cost Japan’s then living national treasure, Kabuki actor Bando Mitsugoro VIII his life. Nevertheless, what the heck. I still want to eat fugu.

Alas, To Taste Death

I am rather adventurous when it comes to anything but this is the first time I’ve actually put my life in the line for food.   I was anxious.

皮刺し (Torafugu Skin Sashimi)

The waiter first served 皮刺し (torafugu skin sashimi) which looked rather like colorless rinds of orange peel.  It was time to dig in. Alas, to taste death! I have been waiting for this moment for about 18 years. I took my first bite and savored it. What followed came as a shock. Death tasted like… well it didn’t taste like anything. It has no taste at all.  It was also firm and crunchy It reminded me so much of the gulaman in the Filipino refreshment sago’t gulaman

What was the big fuss? Did I just blow 5000 yen on something  I could get the same satisfaction with sago’t gulaman? I savored eating more of the fugu skin. Torafugu Skin Sashimi is eaten with spring onions and ponzu sauce. It was growing on me. Hey, what do you know, it was delicious!

Up next was the semi-translucent とらふぐ刺し身 (torafugu sashimi) which was served elaborately arranged to form a chrysanthemum. Ironically, the chrysanthemum is also the Japanese flower of choice for funerals I’ve read somewhere that the chrysanthemum is also Japan’s national flower and fugu is also the only dish forbidden to be eaten by the emperor. Fugu is indeed ironic.

I’ve read that fugu sashimi is supposed to be as “subtle as the fragrance of spring rain dripping upon a stone”. I had absolutely no idea what that zen crap actually meant but it was again time to dig in.

とらふぐ刺し身 (Torafugu Sashimi)

Torafugu Sashimi is eaten with chives and spring onions and dipped into the same ponzu sauce (dark soy sauce + mirin + lemon juice)  served with the Torafugu Skin Sashimi. I’d say I like the Torafugu Skin Sashimi better.  After finishing the plate, I couldn’t still quite get the “subtle as the fragrance of spring rain dripping upon a stone” thing but it’s mild taste together with the sauce’s flavor was delicious nonetheless.

And what do you know, I am still alive

"Subtle as the fragrance of spring rain dripping upon a stone"

とらふぐなべ (torafugu nabe/torafugu hot pot) and なべ皮 (torafugu skin nabe/torafugu skin hot pot) was served next. The soup was to be cooked in a paper basket which I thought was really cool.

Cool Paper Cookware

The fugu meat was still moving when it was served which was a bit freaky but was also awesome thinking of how skilled the chef was at his art

It's still alive!

Fugu meat looks a lot like chicken and the fugu skin imprints are snake like. It doesn’t look anything like  fish at all. It looked more like some alien creature from another galaxy. Since the meat was still moving when it was served, I kind of felt sorry for the fugu when we put them inside the boiling water

Fugu Meat

The fugu nabe was tasty. Fugu meat however was a bit tough. My lips were also starting to itch Was this supposed to be the addictive, tingling, novocaine-like effect that comes with eating fugu? I don’t think the itchy feeling was addictive, though and it sure didn’t feel like novocaine I sure was feeling pretty happy though

雑炊 (Rice Gruel)

After we’ve finished the last piece of our fugu nabe , rice, eggs, onion leeks and some more herbs were put into the our fugu nabe’s remaining broth. The outcome looked so much like doggers But don’t let the appearance fool you. The Rice Gruel was tasty and as hobbits would say would “fill in the corners” of your tummy.

It was a fun night spent with friends. No one broke into seizures which made the night rather normal but fugu is by no means underwhelming It was aslo Justin’s birthday the next day and he is still around to celebrate yet another year

I’ve survived fugu! I’m still around to tell about it. Maybe I’ll try some fugu liver someday for more action. Now that would be exciting

My boyfriend made me listen to this song by the English soul singer Adele and I fell in love with it.  It reminded me of the countless of times I’ve been in that confused state of whether or not to pursue something or someone that I know is destined to fail anyway. I can’t help but be moved.

The music video concept and art direction is also one of a kind. I like the melancholic tones, the cinematography and the dance choreography. The shadow play is also awesome! This is the first time I’ve seen people dance while lying down. That must have been hard Amazing

“Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements,  even if it leads nowhere?”

The annual Tokyo Game Show which is said to be the world’s largest computer entertainment expo was just one of those events I told myself to go to once I set foot on Japan soil. I’m not that much of a gamer but I’ve always been fascinated with cosplayers and the yearly Tokyo Game Show abound with them. Thus, off to Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Meemax, Ramil and I went for the 2008 installation

Meemax and I En Route to the 2008 Tokyo Game Show

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Meemax and I decided to do our own cosplay minus the anime or game characterization and the result can be seen from the picture above.  My feet hurt like freaking hell as I am not used to wearing high heels and Meema’s apartment and the Game Show venue was a good walk away from the nearest train stations. It was worth it though because we both looked sizzling hot and passers-by looked at as with jaw dropping amazement

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Yeyenman the Booth Babe - photo taken by Meemax

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At the Tokyo Game Show site itself, otakus gawked at us trying to figure out if we were portraying some character.  Some photographers particularly foreigners who I think were not very familiar with anime or game characters even asked us if it was okay to take our pictures. Others just snapped their cameras away without permission. I felt very self-conscious but also very gratified (my feet endured agonizing pain for this cosplay-thingie for crying out loud!). Somehow, I felt how it was like to be one of the booth babes or cosplayers  It was a very interesting experience 

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Tokyo Game Show Booth Babe

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Come to think of it, my costume was very similar to one of the booth babe’s as can be seen from the picture taken above by Lau. Maybe I’ll plan my costume ahead next year and actually portray a real character

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Cosplayers at TGS 2008 - photo by Ramil

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Because I woke up particularly late that day, we ended up going to the site late and were only able to catch a handful of cosplayers But it wasn’t really such a total waste though since we were still able to catch a couple of interesting ones

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Cosplayer - photo by Meemax

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The day ended with M joining us for a drinking session and movie marathon at Meema’s apartment. What a day

I swear to go earlier next year.  And for that costume… who to portray, who to portray

More photo’s can be seen here.

I first read this story in my Psych 101 elective back in college. Dahil sa pagpapaala ni Tinats maraming nahalukay na alaala at emosyon sa infernal abyss ng aking pagkatao. Maraming salamat Tinats sa inspirasyon

This story is more or less the story of my life. Nagawa at naranasan ko na yata lahat ng endeavors at encounters ng missing piece kaya tawa ako nang tawa nung binabasa ko to. Natatawa ako pero nostalgic din. Hehehe.

Good thing that after too many blunders, I’ve finally learned not to depend my happiness on anyone. I am no longer a missing piece. I have become whole.