This is an interesting subject for me. Before, I also found it weird that some people ate things like insects, scorpions, living small fish, Chinese chic egg(I don’t know the English name. It’s an egg just before hatching) or fermented stink foods.

But after I once tasted baby bees, I completely changed my mind. In some area of Nagano prefecture, people eat insects like grasshoppers, silkworms and bees. Baby bees (Japanese name is Hachinoko) tasted for me as the fine mixture of very good Mozzarella cheese and honey, probably more delicious than caviar.

Biologically, insects or scorpions are close to crustaceans and people say the tastes are sometimes like shrimps or crabs. Theoretically, insects can be regarded as great food resource which can’t be run out easily. So, It has ecological advantage, too. Though, whether you like it or not, is completely another thing.

As for natto, I think its moldy taste is a little bit similar to blue (mold) cheese. People eat natto because they feel it’s good for health. Generally, fermented food contains variety of amino acid and vitamins. Some people like the taste. I know somewhere in Sweden very stink fermented fish can is popular.

Tofu, you’re thinking of lutafisk (lutefisk?) and it’s as revolting as natto. Basically lye soaked fish, IIRC. Then again, I don’t like blue cheese either.

I think (in the classification) that most insects really are officially insects but some fool us–I think the spiders and scorpions actually ARE crustaceans not insects and so very much like lobsters and crabs. But as to how his girlfriend would taste (cooked) of course we already know–like chicken, right?

I know some people like eating bugs and they may be good (ANYTHING is better than caviar) but in “the world of the future” when we will no doubt be eating bugs most people will not know it–will be mealy worms in bread and we will not know the difference–just high protein. But lutefisk??? You all saw the vid of the live octopus meal and saw The Isle–and apparently it is not that unusual in many other countries too. Fresh fish right? Even here in Canada the best shore lunch is you kill the fish just then and cook it quick. But lutefisk involves burying a salmon with salt and then coming back a year later to eat with a soup spoon. Fresh fisk? Hardly–I find Swimming Skeletons a bit not we’re used to–but I would take that REALLY fresh fish any day to one that has been rotting for a year? Norwegians must be a bit crazy but they are always drunk and guess it’s what they’re used to. I DO like pickled herrings and suppose they are raw though?

P.S. Is it my imagination or has there been no Japan Talk for two weeks now with no explanation? Is volunteer work and we have no real cause to complain and I suppose serious work has intervened. BUT a BIG apology will be required next week?

Betty–you KNOW everything tastes like chicken?

Is it my imagination or has there been no Japan Talk for two weeks now with no explanation?

Not your imagination. . . Just a lack of mine. . .

Had planned to put something out this weekend, but was hit with a piece of rush work on Friday night for a Sunday morning delivery. I love my customers!