News On Japan

'Spring Delicacy' Firefly Squid Fishery in Full Swing

HYOGO, Mar 12 (News On Japan) - The firefly squid fishery is at its peak in Shinonsen, Hyogo Prefecture, as the small bioluminescent squid, a seasonal delicacy of the Sea of Japan, is being hauled in.

Before dawn, firefly squid are brought ashore in Styrofoam containers at Hamasaka Port, one of Japan’s leading squid fishing hubs. Known as the 'jewel of the sea' for their blue-white glow when sensing danger, the firefly squid caught in Hyogo measure about five centimeters in length and are prized for their firm, springy texture.

Once landed, the squid are immediately auctioned, then boiled at nearby processing plants before being shipped mainly to the Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. The firefly squid fishing season is expected to continue until late May.

Source: YOMIURI

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Record-breaking rainfall continued across the Hokuriku region on Saturday, with Himi City in Toyama Prefecture receiving more than 500 millimeters over 72 hours, as authorities warned of further heavy rain, landslides and river flooding through August 30.

Three teenage boys who went missing after being swept offshore from the coast of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima Prefecture, on August 28 were found in the sea near the scene on August 29 and confirmed dead.

Wakayama Prefecture has conducted its first field exercise for emergency bear shooting, bringing together local government officials, police and hunters to practice responding to an Asiatic black bear remaining near a riverbank as sightings continue across Japan.

A 9-minute, 13-second drone video filmed inside Aeon Mall Kumamoto two days after the deadly explosion has provided a detailed view of the destruction, showing collapsed ceilings, heavy dust and widespread damage that may have affected between one-third and nearly half of the shopping center.

Strong Typhoon No. 18 was moving northwest through the East China Sea on the night of August 26, gradually pulling away from Okinawa and the Amami Islands as lingering rain, strong winds and high waves were expected to ease. As of 9 p.m. on August 26, the typhoon was over waters north-northwest of Kume Island and moving northwest.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Food NEWS

Traditional vegetables cultivated in Tokyo for generations are facing a growing threat from extreme heat and a shortage of farmers willing to carry on their cultivation, with some growers reporting that seeds are failing to germinate or young plants are dying in increasingly severe summer temperatures.

Production of Asahi Ponzu, a popular seasoning that has been a fixture on Kansai dining tables for decades, has been suspended for the first time in the product's roughly 60-year history as a severe shortage of sudachi citrus exposes a deepening crisis in Tokushima Prefecture, which accounts for 98% of Japan's shipments.

Gutsu Grill Shinjuku has been serving hearty, affordable steak in Nishi-Shinjuku since 1999, attracting crowds with generous portions and a menu built around value for money. The 44-seat restaurant regularly fills up at lunchtime, with customers praising its tender meat, large servings and reasonable prices.

Lawson plans to cut prices on its main line of onigiri rice balls by 10 yen from September 29 as falling rice prices begin to feed through to retail costs.

Athletes competing in the Asian Games will be served around 370 dishes ranging from Asian-style curries and chicken dishes to Nagoya specialties such as chicken wings and kishimen noodles, with menus also designed to accommodate religious and dietary requirements.

A new type of fraud in which scammers pose as real farmers and advertise seasonal fruit at unusually low prices has been detected in the Kansai region, with police warning consumers to verify sellers through official websites before making purchases.

Shizuoka Prefecture has regained its position as Japan's leading producer of first-flush tea, overtaking Kagoshima Prefecture for the first time in two years as favorable weather and growing demand for matcha helped boost production.

Skylark Holdings is preparing to introduce "ghost restaurants" that operate without dining areas and specialize in delivery and takeout as Japan moves toward lowering the consumption tax rate on food.