Squid candy
There are many candy lovers in the world, but these delicacies are somewhat unusual - they are not sweet at all. These delicacies are especially loved by the Japanese; they are purchased in large quantities during national holidays and festivals. Most often you will find the following inscriptions on the label: “Salmon Caviar” or “Bitter Korean Cabbage”. If you have a Japanese friend, treat him to some normal candy!
Cookies in the shape of a toilet
The creator of this cookie appears to be stuck in Freud's anal stage of development. It is at this time that a person learns to relieve himself independently and is very proud of it. If not, then it’s hard to even imagine what kind of fevered brain came up with this. And the main question is - who will eat such cookies?
Meat flavored ice cream
I'd like a beef cup, a horse meat cone, and a package of chicken wing flavor, please. I'm not kidding! Maybe we have a misunderstanding of all the subtleties of meat taste? I wouldn’t want to go to Japan one day and try ice cream called “Foreigner is an asshole.”
Would you like to try any delicacy from our list? We'd love for you to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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TOP 25: Very strange Japanese dishes
People from different cultures have very different tastes and traditional dishes. Some cultures eat spicy foods, while others prefer simple and bland foods. However, even the most adventurous eaters may find that Japan has some of the strangest dishes on the planet. Sushi is just the tip of the iceberg. From using insects to eating tripe, Japanese recipes are certainly quite creative. Curious to see what else they came up with? Here are 25 very strange Japanese dishes. 25. Grated mountain Japanese yam
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Grated mountain Japanese yam is also called yamaimo and is one of the slimiest and slimiest foods in Japan. It is usually eaten raw in a noodle soup called soba. They say it is so slippery that it slides right down your throat. For this feature it is even called the “mountain eel”.
24. Torigai
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Torigai, also known as Japanese clam, is often used in sushi. It has a bitter taste that is masked by a sweet smell. The main problem is that it needs to be served fresh.
23. Uni
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Originally found in sushi bars, uni has now become a favorite among foodies and Japanese chefs, who top sandwiches and add it to pasta. What is uni? In Japanese it means "sea urchin gonads".
22. Habushu
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First appearing on the island of Okinawa, habushu is a very strong drink. Why? It is prepared by immersing a poisonous viper in sake. Some manufacturers even leave the snake in the jar for added effect. No need to worry about the poison - alcohol makes it inert.
21. Umibudo
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The name translates to "sea grape" in Japanese, and umibudo is an algae found in the western Pacific Ocean from Vietnam to Okinawa. They look like tiny green bubbles that burst when bit into, releasing a salty liquid into the mouth.
20. Chirimen Yako
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From a distance, chirimen yako may resemble small noodles or rice, but they are actually tiny white sardines. They are usually eaten dry, but if boiled in salted water they are called Kamaage Shirasu.
19. Yuba
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Yuba is similar to tofu. First, soy milk is boiled, then evaporated and gives the product the appearance of thin leather. This "skin" is called yuba, and like tofu, it doesn't taste very good.
18. Ikura
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High in Omega-3 fatty acids, ikura is considered a delicacy in Japan and around the world. Essentially, it is red or salmon caviar.
17. Shiro no Odorigi
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Most people want their food to die before they eat it, but this is not the case for those who enjoy shiro no odorigi. "Shiro" is a type of small transparent fish, and "odorigi" can be roughly translated as "dancing while eating." The squirming fish is served with a quail egg, which must be broken into a plate and then pour vinegar over the dish. After that, enjoy.
16. Basashi
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Horse lovers may want to stay away from basashi, as will those who cannot tolerate raw meat. That's right, basashi is raw horse meat. It is usually served ice-cold and the pieces are dipped in soy sauce or Japanese horseradish.
15. Shiokara
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Typically served as an aperitif, shiokara is tiny salted and fermented pieces of squid marinated in its own innards. If you're wondering what offal is, we can tell you. These are the insides of a squid.
14. Dancing squid
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One dish served in Japan is squid on top of a bowl of rice. When the chef pours soy sauce on the squid, it seems to come to life and start dancing. Of course, this is not resurrected squid, but a reaction caused by the sodium chloride in soy sauce.
13. Inaga no Sukudani
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As an afternoon snack, the Japanese love to indulge in inago no sukudani, or rice grasshoppers cooked in soy sauce. Eating beetles is very common in Japan, and bee larvae, giant water beetles and ants are also eaten here.
12. Nankotsu
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Nankotsu means “chicken cartilage” and is actually a separate dish for the Japanese. It's better than what you're trying to avoid when you eat a chicken wing at KFC.
11. Takoyaki
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A popular food on the streets of Osaka is takoyaki, also known as octopus balls. Also called octopus dumplings, they are fried in dough and served with takoyaki sauce.
10. Zaru Soba
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The last thing any of us, with the exception of the Japanese of course, wants to eat is a bowl of cold noodles. Cold soba noodles are usually served with green onions and wasabi and are said to be a refreshing dish on a hot day.
9. Natto
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Natto is a sticky and rather smelly soybean that the Japanese ferment. The beans are fermented in rice straw and become sticky and slippery when ready. Despite its great health benefits, few people outside of Japan enjoy IT.
8. Hashinoko
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Remember when we said that in Japan people love to eat insects? Hashinoko is one such delicacy, it is young bees. They are supposedly very sweet and pair well with regular crackers.
7. Black sulfur noodles
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Known for its black eggs, Hakone is also home to black sulfur noodles. Just like black eggs, the noodles are boiled in sulfur. It's not at all appetizing, but it's probably quite tasty.
6. Zazamushi
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Zazamushi is a funny name the Japanese gave to a group of larvae that live at the bottom of the river. These can be the larvae of any insect. And you better take our word for it that they eat THIS.
5. Fugu
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Cooking fugu is serious business. If a chef wants to prepare this dish, he must obtain a license allowing him to do so. Such precautions are necessary because the poisonous puffer fish contains tetrodotoxin, which is approximately 1,200 times more dangerous than cyanide. Despite the health risks, people still eat about 10,000 each year.
4. Kiyura wa Iruka
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Kiyura wa iruka is a delicacy also known as "whale tale". Although the dish is served differently depending on the region, whale is usually cut into cubes and deep-fried.
3. Tarako
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Tarako is sometimes confused with mentaiko, which are simply salted bags of pollock or cod roe. The name translates as “babies of cod,” and the bags are sold raw and packaged in a thin shell.
2. Harumon
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To some extent, Harmon is a mystery food. The word is used to refer to the insides of animals such as cows or pigs. If you order it, you most likely don’t know which animal’s entrails you’re eating. 1. Shirako
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Shirako means "white children" and is served throughout Japan both raw and cooked. Many people think the dish tastes good, and since it's a cod sperm sac, that might even be an understatement.
Suicide Forest
This forest would fit perfectly into the fictional forest of children's fairy tales, in which witches who lived in houses made of ginger paste kidnapped small children and took them into the forest. Aokigahara is a forest located at the foot of Mount Fuji. In Japanese mythology, this place is associated with demons and evil spirits. The atmosphere of this place also does not help to dispel such ideas. In fact, the trees grow so closely together here that there is almost no wind or extraneous noise and there is complete silence. It's the perfect place to come and enjoy some peace and quiet or, as so many people do, commit suicide. Today, this 35 square kilometer area is known as the suicide forest due to the fact that dozens of people commit suicide here every year. The authorities posted posters asking people not to commit suicide. In addition, searches for bodies have been carried out here annually for the past forty years.
