The most dangerous festival in the world “Hebo Matsuri” takes place in Kushihara in the city of Ena, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, every year on November 3rd. Here we find the peculiar dish of wasps and larvae called hachinoko.
Japanese people living in central areas of the country have been eating insects throughout history, and this Festival “Hebo Matsuri” is one of the few remaining where insects are consumed. Everything happens in a place surrounded by hills and mountains on the border with Aichi Prefecture, near the city of Nagoya.
At the Hebo Matsuri, you can find wasps and nests of the most vicious wasps in the world called kurosuzumebachi [くろすずめばち] for sale. There you can find various dishes with the insects such as tempura, sushi, takikomi gohan, kebab, and yakitori.
It has been common for Japanese people living near mountainous areas to eat nuts and insects as a good source of protein for hundreds of years and for people to create festivals to honor the insects that sacrificed their lives for them.
The nests of edible wasps are sold for about 3,000 yen per kg or more. Some wasps are only edible from the 5th year of age, as larvae of 4 years or younger are small, and the cultivation process is difficult.
Besides the food, there is also a healthy competition for wasp cultivation. In a contest, a judge weighs the wasp nests of the competitors, with the heaviest taking home the grand prize.
On TV, the Hebo Matsuri is advertised as the Most Dangerous Festival in Japan. The chances of being stung are quite high, but in reality, it is not as dangerous as the murder hornets, unless you are allergic to bees.
Hachinoko – A dish of larvae and wasps
The Hachinoko is a specialty of Nagano and Gifu prefectures, considered a delicacy during autumn. Depending on the region, the dishes may vary, but they generally consist of bee or wasp larvae. It can be served with gohan and accompanied by sake.
Despite being strange, such a delicacy is highly appreciated and tasty by brave tourists and locals who claim it has a sweet and crunchy flavor, in addition to being rich in vitamins and proteins. It is believed that the custom arose from scarcity in the past.
You don’t have to wait for the Hebo Matsuri festival to try these delicacies. Just travel through the region and look for a place that prepares this type of exotic dish. Emperor Hirohito was known to enjoy eating fried wasps with soy sauce.
You can find various Hachinoko restaurants in Nagano, Tsukiji, and mountainous regions. If you want to know more about the dishes and festivals, we will conclude the article by leaving some videos below:
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