Job Discussion Forums

[Sage]

No, it's not possible.

[cornishmuppet]

I'm happy some people like it. Its good for the natto to feel wanted. But for me -

1. Looks like the egg scene in Alien.

2. Smells like fart.

3. Has the consistancy of chunky bogey.


The only thing I've ever eaten that I hated more was raw sea slug. Even the Inago (see the picture in the thread above) was tastier, and those fish with the eggs inside are great. Konyaku is not too bad, and the other night I even ate a snail, granted after a few beers.

Saying that, all the variations I've read above almost make me want to try the evil stuff again, but I just think about all the healthy foods in this world that are actually pleasant to eat and I think to myself, why?

[Eva Pilot]

I can't eat the natto as I posted before, but today a natto related topic came up.

A good friend of mine shrieked in horror in the morning when I offered her some vegemite on toast. She said it's the most disgusting thing she's ever eaten or smelled.

Surprisingly enough, I looked on the jar (I bought it here in Japan) and it said "AUSTRALIA'S NATTO."

(Disgusting) food for thought there.

[Hoser]

Looks like it's just the ladies who like natto.

[ndorfn]

I love it, eat it every morning on rice with soy sauce and wasabi, or make it into rolls for lunch (I brush my teeth after though).

[Vince]

There's a place near Yokota Air Base that serves natto ramen. I liked it, but my Japanese girlfriend wouldn't go anywhere near it. As she watched me eat it, her facial expression said, "I don't know anything anymore."

[Apsara]

If you compare natto to something smelly and rotten like Liptauer or blue vein I will concede the similarity to cheese, but a slice of cheddar for example is not intrinsically offensive to most people, so the comparison to cheese is, IMHO, just too broad.

I think the comparison to Vegemite/ Marmite (which I love) is closer because that is a true acquired taste and the smell, appearance and taste just grosses many people out, just like natto.

[Perpetual Traveller]

I can deal with the taste, I can deal with the smell, it's the texture that gets me, phugh!

I think the taste of vegemite and marmite is quite close to soy sauce (for its saltiness) and yet people will happily eat that and then turn there noses up at our mighty 'mites. I think it's often because they assume a spread will be sweet and so the shock ruins the taste explosion!

PT

[ReedNZ]

It is certainly an acquired taste and one that i am yet to acquire!
On a side note from this, do you feel one can live comfortably in Japan without a love for Japanese food?

[cornishmuppet]

When I first arrived all I found in my cupboard were three jars of marmite. They had Japanese labels on the back but I'm still not sure where they came from. I had it on toast every morning for about three months, and sadly have not had it since. Oh, happy days....

[midnightpariah]

[fluffyhamster]

'(B)itter coffee grounds that have the consistency of dog drool' (JimDunlop2); 'I love it...I brush my teeth after though' (ndorfn).

So, you yourself would be gagging (along with everyone near you) if you didn't brush your teeth (or used a miniscule pea-sized amount of paste, like many Japanese are taught to)?

[womblingfree]

I love Natto and still buy it in the UK in styrofoam pots at the Japan Centre.

I can see how the consistency might put people off but the taste is like a yummy cheese.

Mouldy beans, mmmmmm.

[Apsara]

I was taught to use a miniscule pea-sized amount of toothpaste as well (whether I have eaten natto or not). Any more is way too much, according to New Zealand dentists too. Putting a line of it across the top of your brush is just what they do in commercials.

[ajarn farang]

i actually adore natto. this seems to surprise many japanese. or at least they feign surprise quite well.