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The Fish Heralding Spring’s Arrival

Shirouo fish or ice goby announce the approach of spring in Fukuoka. Every year from February to the beginning of April, the fish swims from Hakata Bay to locations near the mouth of the Muromi River, which empties into Hakata Bay, where it spawns. Another sign of spring is the sight of fishermen using fencing, called yana, to surround and pen in the fish. The only spot of color on these five-centimeter-long transparent fish is their black eyes. This light-tasting fish is popularly eaten alive in an odorigui style: scooping the fish with a net out of a big white bowl with dozens of them swimming in, dipping it in vinegar-mixed soy sauce and swallowing it without chewing. It feels like the fish are dancing in your mouth, thus comes the name odorigui – “eating while it is dancing”. Though it may sound cruel, this particular eating style is also a symbol of spring’s arrival. The fish is also eaten in a clear soup or with scrambled eggs, and it can be deep-fried in a mixed tempura.