kanimiso

So I was at this super touristy fishing village near Tokai, called Oarai. I thought it was a cute little fishing village, but as I drove in, the number of ferrari's and jaguars coming out of town on this Sunday, sort of disappointed me actually. Anyway, I went to scout out this torii that I want to go to one early morning and make sunrise pictures of. I found the torii and then also went to the tourist information center that I stumbled upon which happened to have an English map. The map said fish market so off I went hoping to find a good sushi belt, kinda like the one we have near Tokai. I found both the market and the sushi belt restaurant, which was sort of at the pricey end. Otoro (fatty tuna belly, in the background of the scallop picture) and uni(sea-urchin) were both served at 840Yen ($10) per two piece, which I thought was expensive - but then I remembered this was actually the first time I am paying for otoro or uni that I am eating - yeah I know, it is nice to be a girl, most of the time. I also had this huge scallop, that was actually only 320Yen, surprisingly. But anyway, as I usually do, I was chatting with the sushi chef, despite not speaking a common language. He had fed me way too much - but as he hovered over my menu despite me saying I am way too full, he wrapped up another roll - I had to try it, and it's on him, he said. It was this kanimiso, that I had no idea what it was, so thinking it was yet another roll, I didn't take a picture of it. It was sitting on my plate for a while because I was so very full, and he smiled and said something to the effect of 'oh I think you are disgusted?' - this is all guess-work, but I think you would have guessed the same too - remember that Annie Griffiths Belt quote on how language is not that important in communication... Anyway, my pleasing personality gave in and I plopped it in my mouth - it was very sea-like or fishy - both tastes, I like, but also the tastes that makes people dislike fish. Both chefs watched me as my face didn't twist in disgust, and I said 'hmmm... oyeshu (good)' - at which they both jumped and said 'really?' in perfect English. I said really - my Japanese wasn't good enough to tell them that I am infact an island girl. 'What is it?', I asked. 'Crab' he said and pointed to his head. So it is crab-head and crab meat I figured; the head is also where crustaceans store their poop - but to island people this is no big deal. So thinking this must me something super disgusting, I took a picture of the menu so I can ask my Japanese friends. It was indeed crab head/guts and crab meat... big deal!!!