An Island of Fish Fests!

Posted on 09/27/2022 Last updated on 09/27/2022

Top Photo: cheetahさん on PhotoAC

What do we think of when we think of Japanese cuisine? Healthy? Sure. Sushi? Yup. Ramen. Undoubtedly. Izakaya? Uh-huh. But perhaps in an overarching way, the best answer might be….fish. Being an island country, obviously fish has always been a major part of Japan’s diet. However, not only for this reason has it been such an integral part of the food culture here.

Until around when Japan opened its borders in 1845 and foreign culture and cuisine suddenly rushed in, Japan’s mindset about meat was basically taboo. There was some culture of hunting bear and deer (as there still is today) in the mountainous regions, but those people were generally thought of as uncultured rural folk. Meat was forbidden to eat by Buddhist doctrine, and was widely considered “dirty”.

Therefore, most Japanese people had to get their protein in other forms: soy, a variety of beans, sometimes insects (also in rural areas), and….you guessed it! Fish! Fish is so much upheld as a staple of everyday life and an ingrained part of the culture that there are several special events surrounding certain types ‘o fish. Today I will introduce a couple that I know and love.

Meguro Sanma Festival

Sanma, or saury (yes, I also didn’t know that one…) are a type of smaller fish, akin to sardines, a “blue fish”, are prolific in Japan. Cooked in a variety of ways, they have their own special festival which takes place in Meguro. Every year (pandemic restrictions not withstanding) in early September, the town association gives away, FOR FREE, around 7000 grilled sanma!

In a very lively and festive atmosphere, with stall also selling a variety of other foods and drinks, you can line up (for quite some time) to get your own grilled sanma. Started in 1996, the story of the origin of the festival is much older. As it goes, a hungry nobleman decided to get something to eat while in the Meguro area and decided to try some grilled sanma, despite it being considered a cheap peasant street food (as was sushi, in fact!), and he loved it!

Being that it wasn’t something that he could have regularly at his palace, it being peasant food and all, he was said to return to Meguro frequently to enjoy the delicious sanma. Please go to check it out, and if you don’t feel like lining up for some free fish, there are plenty of other options!

**Hiroo Maguro Festival**

This one is a bit more local, underrated, and has a less interesting back story, but fun nonetheless! Occurring in May, the Hiroo Shopping District Association puts together this unique event every year. Hiroo is known for a few things: being a pretty posh and expensive area, and also full of foreigner expats.

Which means, despite the small size of the neighborhood, they have the money to (yet again, FOR FREE) give away fish, there is also a very large presence of foreign culture at this festival! From Brazilian drum circles, to American blues, including of course local Japanese groups, there are live performances all day, culminating in the filleting of a giant maguro, the king of Japanese fish!

Maguro is a type of tuna. THE type of tuna. You know that super red colored fish that is the standard in any sushi meal? Yes, that’s it. The neighborhood association drops unimaginable yen to buy a BIG one, cut it up, and dish it out to visitors and locals for free. A MUCH shorter wait time, and let’s face it, more delicious than sanma!

They also have a wide range of traditional Japanese summer festival style stalls and games, as well as a variety of drinks and cuisines from other cultures. Come for the performances, stay for the free tuna!

Don’t forget to bring your own Tupperware or plastic bag, as you can join the feeding frenzy and bring some of the leftovers home with you, as much as you feel comfortable digging into a giant fish!

Conclusion

These are two of the ones which I have frequented and can personally recommend, but they happen all over the country. Please check out what’s going on in your neck of the Japanese woods! And remember, fish is the chicken of the sea!

Photo Credits:

Top Photo: cheetahさん on PhotoAC

1 – haikukukuさん on PhotoAC

2 – ringonomeさん on PhotoAC