As part of a project with dancyu,
I had the opportunity to visit several production areas across Chiba Prefecture
and to learn a great deal firsthand.
Ōhara is widely known as a source of high-quality abalone,
but by visiting the area myself,
I came to understand that landings of wild torafugu pufferfish
have also been increasing in recent years.
Ongoing efforts such as juvenile stock releases
are gradually bearing fruit,
and high-quality wild torafugu are now being landed more consistently.
Witnessing this on site was deeply impressive.
At the same time,
I felt there is still room for improvement
in post-harvest handling and distribution.
If these fish can reach chefs in even better condition,
their potential could be expressed far more fully.
Through this visit,
I was reminded that when producers, fishermen, distributors, and chefs
engage with one another from their respective positions,
the true strength of Chiba’s ingredients
can be shared with many more people.
As a chef,
I hope to be involved, even in a small way,
in that ongoing flow.