• octopus pancakes (お好み焼き "okonomiyaki") - ingredients can include octopus, cabbage, pancake batter, fish flakes, and mayonnaise; osaka makes the best, but ive made my own and i must say it was quite awesome as well
  • fish sausages - literally a sausage-like tube filled with fish parts; one of these was oddly given to me as a present from one of my teachers; a gross fact is that it doesnt need to be refrigerated
  • seaweed and chili pepper tea (唐辛子茶 "tougarashicha") - delicious! most japanese people ive talked to dont like it because its too spicy, but ive met a couple who enjoy it as much as i do
  • nattou (納豆) - fermented soy beans; slimy, smelly, and gross
  • tempura (fried) ginger - large thin slice of ginger dipped in light batter and fried; hands-down the tastiest tempura vegetable ive eaten so far
  • squid-flavored crackers - fishy and salty crackers are not high up on my list of favorite things
  • soy sauce flavored potato chips - took a little getting used to but theyre actually pretty good
  • shrimp-flavored potato chips - salty and shrimpy; not a fan at all
  • whale meat school lunch (鯨肉の給食 "kujira niku no kyuushoku") - my schools dont serve whale meat, but i heard that many in wakayama (the prefecture next to mine) do; i actually havent tried eating whale meat yet
  • fish flakes used as a common seasoning (鰹節 "katsuobushi") - bonito flakes rightfully belong on many things from noodles to octopus balls
  • octopus balls (たこ焼き "takoyaki") - an osaka (大阪) specialty, these things are amazing; pieces of octopus in the center of a doughy ball usually topped with mayonnaise, fish flakes, and sometimes shredded ginger
  • tea made from the leftover water from boiling soba noodles (そば茶 "sobacha") - one of the things nagano (長野) is known for; tastes very similar to mugicha (麦茶), or barley tea, this goes great with cold homemade soba noodles
  • beef-flavored potato chips - i did not even try these; the smell was atrocious
  • squid jerky - chewy and salty; not as good as it sounds
  • cheese-flavored kit kat - smells awful but tastes pretty good; tastes a lot like chocolate cheesecake
  • cabbage and grape juice - for as weird as it sounds to enjoy drinking cabbage juice, the slight grape flavor made it quite tasty
  • soy sauce and cheese flavored crackers - odd combination but satisfying nonetheless

    Comments (6)

    On December 20, 2010 at 12:01 PM , Claire said...

    Things I would like you to make me:
    -octopus pancakes
    -octopus balls
    -tempura ginger

    Things that you don't like but that are good and you should like them:
    -shrimp-flavored potato chips

     
    On December 21, 2010 at 12:06 AM , nick whalen said...

    sorry but youre wrong, the bear; theyre totally gross

     
    On December 21, 2010 at 8:42 AM , ACGalaga said...

    I want some of that tea! The seaweed and chili pepper tea sounds awesome!

     
    On December 22, 2010 at 9:36 AM , The Bear said...

    They are not gross! I totally used to eat them all the time as a kid.

     
    On December 22, 2010 at 2:15 PM , nick whalen said...

    @acgalaga i havent found out where i can buy it yet, but when i do ill let you know

     
    On December 22, 2010 at 2:16 PM , nick whalen said...

    well its your word against mine, the bear; guess who im going to believe :P