New Years Eve

New Years Eve is the big holiday in Japan. Families come together to celebrate, pray, eat, drink and clean. We started new years eve by having Fugu Nabe at Mika's parents. It's the third time i've had Fugu so am not really worried about dying anymore but there were a few suprises this time. First was a big tray of fugu testicles. They were big, soft and quite difficult to eat. Second i got to eat the fishes face. After cooking all the bones fall out of the face and you're left with the lips, skin and flesh behind the skin. It was actually really tasty and my favourite part of the fish. at around 11:30 we went to a local shrine so mika and her family could do their new year prayers and drink sweet sake. Even though it was a small shrine there was still a 200m line waiting to do their prayers and a huge fire to keep everyone warm.

Mika eating fugu skin.

fish testicles anyone? i was really suprised that people eat them but you have to try everything once right?

this is the fugu mouth. The white in the centre of the fish is the lips. It was actually really nice.

the sweet sake stand at the shrine in Amagasaki. It was really nice but they didn't give you enough.

the shrine and fire. nice and warm on a very cold winter night.