Staying 2 nights in one place makes it feel like a holiday with time to stretch out and do some sightseeing. Our mechanic/recumbent expert in Osaka, Yoshi, is also an avid fisherman. He recommended that we visit a huge facility devoted to the selling of fish and get to watch how a tuna is cut up for market. Today is the day that we will go to the fish market.
The fish market is super popular. The range of shops with fresh seafood is incredible with a huge area of places to eat. The tuna has pride of place above the entry.
What a treat to watch experts at work. Their very sharp, large knives cut with great delicacy and slide through with ease. Deboning was incredible and he made it look so easy. It was fascinating to watch pieces being sorted for various uses.
Japan has been hunting the largest mammal on earth for its oil, bones and meat for more than 2000 years. The height of the industry came after the Second World War. During Japan’s post war recovery whale meat became a precious protein.
Canada and many other countries oppose whale hunting as cruel and unnecessary. However, Japan feels that whale hunting is a cultural tradition. Only Japan, Iceland and Norway continue to hunt whales. After the war, the country was devastated and food was scarce, so American occupation authorities urged the Japanese to eat more whale meat. For the next ten or fifteen years half of all protein in the Japanese diet was whale meat. Today, it’s much less. People eat only about 40 grams a year per capital, about the size of a slice of ham. The taste has a gamey flavour, similar to beef or venison but with a distinct taste of the sea. There are still restaurants that specialize in whale meat. Older people seem to like it because it reminds them of their childhood. The most common types of whale meat consumed in Japan are Minke, Bryde’s and Sei whales. We had a similar challenge to a local tradition in some European countries where horse meat is enjoyed. As travellers we feel that it is not our place to judge, rather to understand.
There was a huge section of the complex where you could choose from a variety of fresh seafood cooked or raw. Barry chose the big round bowl of sushi, veg and rice. Mary Ellen chose tuna and shrimp sushi. The tuna was delicious.
Bulldozers were busy grooming the sand on the beach. I read somewhere that white sand is imported from Australia to give the beach its white appearance.
You can see the steam rising from the hot springs. When the hot spring water comes up to the surface the temperature is 83 celcius. Most hot springs bath have their temperature around 40 Celsius.
Barry saw this man using a laser to project a light onto a spot on the hotel’s upper wall. We stopped and tried to figure what he was doing. Then we watched a black kite/hawk fly down onto the man’s wrist. When I asked what he was doing he used his phone to translate that his job was a bird pest controller. He would work with his bird to control the pigeon population at the hotel. He then gave us a demonstration of how his bird performed his duties. The young man was delighted that we were interested in his job and his work buddy.
At our hotel we enjoyed watching the sunset with our feet in the infinity foot bath. The water is from the hot springs and makes your feet and legs feel great.
Today's ride: 12 km (7 miles) Total: 234 km (145 miles)
Rate this entry's writing
Heart
4
Comment on this entry
Comment
3
Scott AndersonIt's such a relief to see how well Mary Ellen appears to be doing. I was really concerned for her after her fall. Reply to this comment 5 days ago
Barry BartlettThank you Scott and Karen. It has been a trial…slow to heal and painful. But I can still ride, so we carry on with shorter days. All in all, it could have been worse. Reply to this comment 3 days ago
