Octopussies Rule
Last night I ate Octopus for the first time. I was in Genghis Khan after work (it was 10.30pm and I wasn't about to go home and cook) and Miki-san rustled up something for me to eat. Octopus tentacles in a nice crispy batter, along with some very rubbery fried fish...things. I can't recall the name. The octopus was actually quite good, just like squid in fact.
However, I was on the National Geographic website last week watching footage of a giant octopus battling a shark, amongst other octopus footage. This has again left me with the feeling that these creatures are going to take over the earth. ( "Somebody's been reading too much Lovecraft," you may say. And yes, I have been re-reading good old HPL recently.) Therefore should I be eating them?
I decided that when I came to Japan I would have to eat a little more fish than I normally do, as a concession to the fact that vegetarianism isn't really recognised out here (a bit like the north of England). However, I was having thoughts on the way home about how intelligent octopuses (yes, that is the plural - I checked) are, and also about something I read about how octopuses are exempt from animal testing because it has been proven that they feel pain (how about every other animal then? - but that's another issue). The feelings of guilt returned.
This is an etiquette versus morals issue, and at the moment the etiquette is winning.
Miki also gave me a six-pack of Kirin beer as a present, and mentioned that Sam has been trying to set me up with one of the restuarant staff. I foresee me punching the big ex-Marine very hard. I wonder if he's ticklish, that might induce a suitable amount of humiliation.
However, I was on the National Geographic website last week watching footage of a giant octopus battling a shark, amongst other octopus footage. This has again left me with the feeling that these creatures are going to take over the earth. ( "Somebody's been reading too much Lovecraft," you may say. And yes, I have been re-reading good old HPL recently.) Therefore should I be eating them?
I decided that when I came to Japan I would have to eat a little more fish than I normally do, as a concession to the fact that vegetarianism isn't really recognised out here (a bit like the north of England). However, I was having thoughts on the way home about how intelligent octopuses (yes, that is the plural - I checked) are, and also about something I read about how octopuses are exempt from animal testing because it has been proven that they feel pain (how about every other animal then? - but that's another issue). The feelings of guilt returned.
This is an etiquette versus morals issue, and at the moment the etiquette is winning.
Miki also gave me a six-pack of Kirin beer as a present, and mentioned that Sam has been trying to set me up with one of the restuarant staff. I foresee me punching the big ex-Marine very hard. I wonder if he's ticklish, that might induce a suitable amount of humiliation.