Food is a unifying factor, despite the place you are from. Hunger stirs, as you wait for a hot plate of aromatic, tasty food and sometimes even bizarre! Japan has a lot to offer and they can give you the weirdest food. But for a daring foodie it sure is an adventure.
Natto
A traditional Japanese dish made of fermented soya beans. Usually eaten with rice, sushi or ramen, the food is 'sticky'. This slimy dish is said to be healthy. Having a strong smell and flavour, the description of the smell seems to vary, and therefore it may seem less appetizing. However, Natto is said to be nutritious, containing no cholesterol, having other proteins like calcium, magnesium, iron and so on.
Habushu
Wine! Having imagined wine in a romantic light, Habushu is terrifying. Also known as Okinawan snake wine, is indeed a bottle of wine! Named after the habu snake, this is an 'alcoholic beverage' made with the whole snake inside the grain alcohol or rice wine. It is made either by infusing the whole snake inside the alcohol or the snake is made to freeze and is then placed in the alcohol. These venomous snakes are taken care of, for the 'essence', as the venom mixes with the alcohol, and doesn't harm the drinker. The wine is taken as shots or in small cups.
Beef tongue
As the name suggests, this dish is prepared with the cow's tongue. The tongue is cleaned and sliced into a thin piece. It is grilled over charcoal. The BBQ in Japan is called yakiniku. This piece of meat is said to be crunchy and tender.
Shirako
As odd as it may look, Shirako is a dish that tells us that, nothing goes waste in Japan. As weird as it may seem, Japan's dish Shirako is all about the 'milt', the sperm sack of a male cod. With a soft and creamy texture, it can be served raw, fried, steamed. Well, as long as you aren't disgusted with the idea of the food, it is certainly something to brag about.
Basahi
Horse meat! The meat is sliced into a thin piece and is eaten with soy sauce and garlic. The horse meat is cooked but more often is served raw and cold!
Dancing squid
A living dish! It's all about the freshness and soy sauce. As morbid as it may seem, the squid is freshly killed, however the tissues may still function. Thus, the movement of the squid when the soy sauce is poured and so the name 'dancing squid'.
Inago no Tsukudani
A kind of grasshoper that is eaten often as an afternoon snack. Caught and put in a bag or box, with no food. They are then boiled and later fried. It is cooked in soy sauce and sugar.
Shirouo no Odorigui
It's not dead yet. This tiny transparent fish is eaten while it's still alive ! It is eaten as the fish is mixed with the yoke of the quail egg and vinegar.
Chirimen Jako
While this dish resembles noodles, one has to look closely to find tiny dots, eyes rather! They are small sardine eels. It can be eaten either raw or dried after being cooked and can also be boiled in salt water, and will be called Kamaage Shirasu. It is also rich in calcium and protein.
Zazamushi
A name, for the larvae of any insect, living at the bottom of a river! They are cooked with soy sauce, and sugar.
Larvae of other insects like wasps, bees, hornets are also eaten.
Well... Bon appétit!
