The seasons change four times throughout the year in Japan.
After you suit up in heavy clothes to stop yourself from shivering in the winter, the weather gradually begins to warm up and soon it is time to wear lighter clothes during spring and summer.
Then, before you know it, it becomes cool in autumn and it is time to wear extra clothes again.
Seasonal changes can be cumbersome, as you have to change your wardrobe and try to take care of your health as you adapt.
However, the changes in the season don’t only bring about bad things.
Every season also offers the excellent gift of seasonal foods.
One of my favorite seasons for seasonal foods is autumn.
Japanese people think of autumn as an eating season because of the many wonderful foods that are in season during this time of year, including mushrooms, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and eggplants.
Among these autumn foods, saury is particularly delicious.
In Japanese characters, saury is called the “autumn knife fish” (秋刀魚), meaning a fish shaped like a knife that is caught in autumn.
Just as this name suggests, the saury is narrow and sharp looking.
Despite this, it is rich in oil and all parts of it can be eaten, including the skin and body.
The uniquely bitter internal organs also make for a great drinking snack.
Grill the saury that is high in oil content slowly so that it does not burn, grind up some daikon (giant white radish), and cut and squeeze some sudachi (a type of small citrus fruit).
These “bothersome” tasks make me slow down, relax, and feel happy.
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