Job Discussion Forums

[JimDunlop2]

This may sound silly/stupid.... Hence the off-topic label. But if someone could indulge me here, I'd appreciate it.

It started when a couple of crazy blokes I call my friends asked me to settle an argument: "Have there been any sushi-related deaths in the past year?"

I asked whether they were including deaths by choking, or just poisoning... Both would be helpful. Then I asked whether they were including "fugu-related" (poisonous blowfish) incidents causing death... And apparently that's fair game too..

Now I really haven't had ANY luck finding info on the net that might help me produce any figures. The best I can come up with are GROSSLY contradicting figures related to fugu deaths in Japan... A 1998 Dallas Observer article would have you believe that 300 people die annually, whereas the Fugu Genome Project online states that in 1996 there were only 2 such incidents.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? After all, I have my family honour at stake here.

JD

[Brooks]

it happened to the friend of my girlfriend`s father.
He lived in Yamaguchi ken, home to the best fugu, after Nagasaki.
He used to be able to eat just the right amount of poison of fugu to give him a paralyzed feeling. He said it was like a high.
The paralysis would end then he would be fine.
But one day he ate too much and died.
Don`t try that at home.

Fugu chefs need ten years of training, from what I hear. I like fugu, but I don`t catch it myself.

Osaka is a good place to find fugu sashimi and fugu nabe that is at a good price.