Trivia: Emperor of Japan is Forbidden from Eating Fugu

Posted by Alex in Animal, Daily Trivia, Food & Drinks, Pictures on December 11, 2007 at 5:02 pm


Here’s a piece of trivia for you: Pufferfish or fugu is a delicacy in Japan. The fish is eaten raw as a sashimi. When prepared correctly, the flesh of the fish gives a tingling sensation on the tongue. This, turns out is due to a non-lethal dose of tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin with no antidote.

If prepared improperly, say if the chef cut into the liver by accident, then you could die from it. Because it is a neurotoxin, you would be completely paralyzed and cannot breathe. Death occurs within 4 to 24 hours, during which you are completely conscious over what’s happening.

Because of this reason, fugu is the only delicacy officially forbidden to the Emperor of Japan. For his own safety. Now you know.

Cute pic of baby pufferfish is found at gigglesugar – Thanks Jon Jason!


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8 comments to "Trivia: Emperor of Japan is Forbidden from Eating Fugu"

  1. chanchan
    December 11th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

    That pufferfish really shouldn't be out of the water. Cute, but probably dead.

  2. Jerse
    December 11th, 2007 at 5:32 pm

    Wasn't that bit about the puffer fish in Charlies' Angels?

  3. Emily
    December 11th, 2007 at 6:30 pm

    I would never risk dying for an exquisite meal.

    Would you try it?

  4. Vonskippy
    December 11th, 2007 at 8:31 pm

    A few years back, I had Fugu Sashimi in a tiny restaurant just outside of Shibuya. Wasn't all that exciting - and the taste wasn't anything memorable. Except for a short lived cocaine-esque tingle on my lips and tongue, it was just like any other Sashimi dish (except it's really really expensive for such a minor thrill).

  5. Dan
    December 11th, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    So, we have established that Vonskippy is not the Emperor of Japan.

  6. Vonskippy
    December 11th, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    Not yet anyways.

  7. bricklayer
    December 11th, 2007 at 10:06 pm

    I think Homer is forbidden from eating fugu too.

  8. Ali S.
    December 12th, 2007 at 5:08 am

    @ Vonskippy

    Cocaine-esque...? :o


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