![]() He states that “People say is 200 times more deadly than cyanide.” He reveals that only a small sliver of Fugu ovary would kill a person. ![]() He cautions that the ovaries are the most dangerous part, but that the intestines and liver of the blowfish can also be lethal. Miura-san next removes all of the skin, and begins to slice at the innards of the fish. Those portions are placed into a tray designated for “non-edible” portions of the fish. He first lays the fish out on its stomach, and cuts the head open in order to remove and discard the eyes and brain. When not in use, these knives are stored separately in a designated box. He uses special knives in its preparation, which are designed by a sword smith and have extremely sharp edges. Miura-san’s Fugu preparation ritual is the same every time. It should be noted that about a third of those who take the exam to prepare Fugu fail it. He trained for over two years, and at the age of 20 (the age that a Japanese citizen is considered a legal adult) he was able to obtain a license. Miura-san began his career at the age of 15, apprenticing in a kitchen. It is interesting that a dish that is potentially deadly would be associated with the month of the year when plants begin the cycle of death and rebirth. Miura-san displays a Fugu chef’s license above his work station, and has over 60 years of experience preparing Fugu, but still practices a high degree of care when serving this dish, as one mistake could be fatal for diners who eat the dish. One Japanese chef who is licensed to prepare and serve Fugu is Kunio Miura, known as Miura-san. ![]() Surprisingly, the government in Tokyo is currently preparing to relax restrictions that permit only licensed and trained chefs to serve Fugu. At the present time, only a very select number of chefs are authorized to serve and prepare Fugu. Fugu is extremely poisonous if it is not prepared properly, and can be fatal if ingested. One of the most interesting and dangerous dishes in Japanese cooking is Fugu, also known as Blowfish or Puffer Fish. Japanese cuisine includes some unique and amazing delicacies. It was legalized again by Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito (1841-1909), who, passing through Shimonoseki, having tasted fugu and having greatly appreciated it, "reinstated" the pufferfish for consumption.Fugu is extremely poisonous if not prepared properly It is also in Shimonoseki at the end of the sixteenth century, the warlord Hideyoshi soldiers were poisoned from eating fugu and so its consumption was banned for two centuries. It is in the market of this city that passes half of the national catches and that some 50 licensed chefs are installed there. Shimonoseki even proclaimed herself the "Japanese capital of fugu", and pays homage to her favorite fish every year on February 9. between the spa of Beppu and Usuki, on the island of Kyushu. However, most establishments serving fugu are located around two ports that bring in the largest catch of the famous fish: Shimonoseki (on the Sea of Japan, in the far southwest of Honshu), and Oita. There are some 3,800 fugu restaurants across Japan, of which around 800 are located in Tokyo. The government is also asking fugu fishermen or individuals to whom third parties have given them not to have them prepared themselves because this is the main cause of poisoning. The sale of liver and poisonous parts of fish is prohibited. ![]() ![]() To curb poisoning, strict legislation governs the preparation and sale of fugu. Read also: The most popular fish in Japan.Some people, by challenge, risk tasting the forbidden fish, such as the famous kabuki theater actor, Bando Mitsugoro VIII (1906-1975), who wanted to impress his guests by tasting the animal's liver. However, thanks to strict legislation, the number of victims has decreased, and recently no deaths have been recorded. Each year, several poisonings are linked to a bad preparation of this fish. Four to eight hours: this is the average survival time after absorption of the poison and there is no antidote. The nervous system is affected, the victim may seize, lose speech, become paralyzed, then lose consciousness and die. Its effects are dazzling: the tongue becomes numb first, then the lips and the entire mouth. But it has another formidable weapon: the poison contained in its organs (liver, ovaries, and eyes): tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin more powerful than cyanide. The fugu is nicknamed " sunfish" or " pufferfish" because it swells by absorbing a large amount of water to repel its predators while bristling with spines, thus operating a real metamorphosis. ![]()
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