Fugunabe (Blowfish hot pot) ふぐ鍋

Nabe (hotpot) is popular dish throughout Japan Nabe (hotpot) is popular dish throughout Japan. Especially, fugu (blowfish) is popular. However, it is expensive, and a part of the fish is poisonous. Sometimes, people enjoy a little bit of poison to feel numbness on their tongue.

The main story begins.

Long time no see!

Hey, it’s Ippachi, the taiko mochi (male, joker like, performer) Where have you been?

Ippachi describes how his onsen trip ends up becoming long.  

That’s silly. You’re not making any sense.

I apologize. But I brought you a gift.

A gift? That’s kind of you. Do you have any plans today? Nope, all I planned today was to visit you.

Great. I was getting bored. Do you want to drink with me? Sure, that would be nice.

Ippachi praises the wife and the house cat.

Were you expecting guests sir? No no. I just put this together quickly for you. Now, a drink?”  

Oh no, you shouldn’t be pouring sake for me. No. We’re not at work now. You’re the guest now. Don’t worry about it.

Thank you. It feels wrong though, to let my master do this. Delicious! You haven’t even had a sip yet!

I don’t need to drink it to know its good sake…. oh, I can hear the hotpot bubbling from the kitchen.

Seems to be ready. Here, have a bite. Why thank you. And what sort of nabe (hot pot) is this?

This? Its fish. What kind?

Its…Its… fugu (blowfish).

Fugu. We can’t have fugu. If we eat fugu, we die fugu Fugu!? We can’t have fugu! If we eat fugu, we die fugu! (pun: sugu=in no time) Enough with the jokes. It’s fine. I got it from a respected chef.

That’s not the problem. It’s too early. Early? Now’s a great season to eat it.

Not that kind of early. I still have a lot of things to do in my life. I want to live long, do many things, and live to a great age. I just won’t eat fugu.

It’ll be fine. I guarantee it. (Ippatchi refuses to eat it.)

I made this specially for you! (They hear noise in the kitchen.) The usual beggar comes to beg for food.

Ippachi, why don’t we get the beggar to try the fugu Ippachi, why don’t we get the beggar to try the fugu? If it’s fine, then we’ll eat it. That’s a great idea. The beggar can serve some purpose. If he dies from the fugu, people will be grateful.

They prepare some of the fugu nabe to hand it to the beggar. (Ippachi goes and comes back.)

What happened? He said “thank you” and went off. What? You have to go back and see what happens when he eats it.

Ippachi leaves and then returns Ippachi leaves and then returns. “He was sleeping, leaning on the telephone poles. He was sleeping? Not…completely still or anything?

Nope, he was definitely sleeping.

Let’s eat then, Ippachi! You go ahead sir. Nonsense, you first.

Let’s eat it together then. On my count of three. Ready? One, two, three…Well, you’re a pretty resistant man aren’t you.

But you didn’t have any either But you didn’t have any either! You don’t seem to be too trusting either.

Okay. We’ll eat with our eyes closed. Ready? One, two, three… Hmm, I guess the eyes do open. Well, you say the beggar eat it right? So its fine.

(They finally start eating. It is delicious and they finish it.)

They hear noise in the kitchen again, the beggar is back. Any left over… No, we don’t have any. So just leave.

Sir, about that stuff you gave me a while ago. Oh that? It’s all gone now. We finished the whole nabe. I should not have given it to you.

And you feel…. Fine? What? I don’t feel anything.

Well then, I can eat the fugu now with no worries.

The End