Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Japanese Fugu

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 1 person)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #1337 in Food, #38089 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Fugu - the most dangerous dish in the world?

 

Fugu is one of the most fascinating and notorious dishes in the world. Prized in Japan as a delicacy, it is prepared from the flesh of the pufferfish (Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish). The flesh itself is edible, but the skin, liver and ovaries contain lethal amounts of the poison tetrododoxin. If these any of these elements are consumed, then the effects are often deadly.

You'll be glad to know that restaurants only serve Fugu if prepared by a fully qualified chef (3 years, plus a very difficult exam). The dish is only found in Japan and in the States. The sale of Fugu is banned in the European Union.

Death by Fugu 

Let's face it. This is the bit that everyone is interested in and is probably one of the reasons why Fugu is so sought after. It's not particularly nice though so please skip over this part if you're squeamish.

The first symptoms from ingesting a lethal dose of tetrodotoxin include dizziness, exhaustion, headache, nausea or difficulty in breathing. Often the lips begin to tingle as the poison takes effect. The victim is conscious throughout the process, and gradually becomes paralysed as the electical impulses to the nerves shut down. Death usually occurs within 24 hours.

In some parts of Japan a fugu victim is laid to his coffin for three days before death is confirmed. If the body does not decompose, then the person is still alive. According to official government sources in Japan, 14 people died from Fugu between 2002-2006. This was usually the result of DIY preparation.

Books on Fugu in Japanese Cooking 

There are no English-language books solely devoted to Fugu preparation, probably because of the difficulty in obtaining the fish. The selection below offer a great introduction to Japanese eating in general - including sections on Fugu.

Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World (California Studies in Food and Culture, 11)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 08/08/2008)
List Price: $25.95
Used Price: $9.45

Usually ships in 24 hours

The Folk Art of Japanese Country Cooking: A Traditional Diet for Today's World

Release Date: 01/14/1993

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $21.15 (as of 08/08/2008)
List Price: $23.50
Used Price: $7.25

Usually ships in 10 to 13 weeks

What's What in Japanese Restaurants: A Guide to Ordering, Eating, and Enjoying (Origami Classroom)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $9.56 (as of 08/08/2008)
List Price: $11.95
Used Price: $2.69

Usually ships in 24 hours

At the Japanese Table (Images of Asia)

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 08/08/2008)
List Price: $19.95
Used Price: $4.95

Usually ships in 2 to 5 weeks

Fugu Links 

Want to know more about Fugu? Find out below.
Japan's Kamikaze Kuisine by Nancy Lyon| Travel Reviews from Travel Intelligence
An interesting travel article on Fugu in Japan from Travel Intelligence
Metropolis - Tokyo Food and Drinks: Fugu Ryotei
How to find a Fugu restaurant in Toyko with recommendations.
Licensed Fugu Chef in the US - China Star
A piece about a Fugu chef in the USA
NPR : Restaurants That Serve Fugu : Ketzel Levine's Talking Plants
See a list of the few, the proud, the restaurants that are licensed to serve fugu in the United States.

Popular Fugu Dishes 

Fugu-sashi - Thinly sliced raw flesh and skin
The raw flesh and skin of the fish is thinly sliced so that it is translucent. It is served with a sour citrus sauce, chives and grated white radish.

Fugu-chiri - The fish is cut into pieces and then added to a pot of boiling water. Vegetable are added. It is cooked for a short time and then served with a sour citrus sauce, chives and red pepper.

Fugu-zosui - Once the Fugu-chiri has been prepared, eggs, rice and salt are added to make a hotpot with a thicker consistency.

Fugu on YouTube 

How to eat FUGU-CHIRI(TECCHIRI)

SHABU-SHABU it!

Runtime: 0:30
9880 views
10 Comments:

powered by YouTube

The Fugu Poll 

I have visited Tokyo, but was too chicken to try Fugu. I also didn't know that much about it before I went. Apparently some think it tastes bland, others love the chewy texture and subtle flavour. I'd love to know how daredevil other lensmasters would be in the same situation!

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Blogs on Fugu 

Chew Your Tea and Finish That Fugu
Still, several hundred people die in Japan each year from eating poisonous fugu. Specially trained s...
Rooftop: the fugu of davening styles
Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish, a fish that is said to be tasty when prepared correctly, b...
Tetrodotoxin Poisoning Associated With Eating Puffer Fish ...
A 23-year-old man ate a piece of fugu ?the size of a quarter? (approximately 1/4 oz). Approximat...
Japan Small Update
Summer Wonderfest experience; Getting lost in Osaka; Denden Town, Osaka's answer to Akiba; Visitin...

Have you tried Fugu? Please let us know! 

Jamflips

Haven't tried fugu, but frequently eat Jamaican ackee which if not properly prepared can be just as lethal as fugu!
Ackees contain the alkaloid toxins hypoglycin A and B which produce profound hypoglycemia, vomiting seizures and death. I know that many Japanese have visited Jamaica and love reggae nusic and dance hall music, I'm sure they must have tried ackees in the Jamaican national dish "ackee and saltfish" (ackees sauteed with salted codfish, tomatoes and onions).

Posted June 22, 2008

Clairwil

What a brilliant idea for a lens and really well done.
5*

Posted November 08, 2007

X
Meloramus

About Meloramus

Meloramus is a bit of an information junkie, which you can see from her Melography.

Her current ambition is to build 100 lenses. She charts her progress on The Big Squidoo.

Meloramus's Pages

See all of Meloramus's pages

X

Gold Star

This is a certified gold star lens, which means it's the best of its kind on Squidoo (or shows some serious potential for getting there!)

Read more about gold stars »

X

Meloramus is a Giant Squid!

Giants are distinguished by their exceptional skill for making top-notch lenses, and lots of them. Whenever you land on a Giant Squid's lens, you know the person behind it is passionate about the topic and is hard at work making the lens worthy of your time and attention.

Learn more about what it takes to be a Giant »