Especially during the summer, it feels as though there is always some kind of food festival going on in Japan. And while most will offer delectables from various regions or revolve around one specific type of food, every now and then, you’ll hear of an event where visitors will be served curious dishes made from ingredients that will make the majority of them squirm in their seats.

Japanese izakaya Kome To Circus (米とサーカス/“Rice and Circus”) in Takadanobaba is no stranger to cooking up delicious dishes you’ll rarely see anywhere else. Though they usually specialize in dishes made from the meat of wild game, this unconventional Japanese bar will be holding an event from July 18th to August 31st featuring an entire menu of creepy crawlies.

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Source: ValuePress!

This insect fair will be serving courageous diners hearty plates of dishes including the 6-piece bug sushi (with giant water bugs, bee larvae, crickets, locusts, praying mantis larvae, and honeybees), silkworm teriyaki, herb jelly with ant eggs, honeybee skewers, and cicada fried chicken, among many more.

Even though these dishes might make your skin crawl, insects are full of nutrients, and are quite widely consumed throughout the world. Researchers are even predicting that they will eventually make their place as future food staples, when overpopulation causes major food shortages throughout the world, and people won’t be able to afford being picky about their diet.

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Source: ValuePress!

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Source: ValuePress!

Bug food fairs like this are quite popular. Hundreds of eager and curious soul flock to the events to get a taste of some crunchy insects, and many are likely to find themselves pleasantly surprised. It’s with good reason, too — as long as food is involved, the chefs take it very seriously. As for this particular event, insect food researcher Shoichi Uchiyama and insect food writer Mushimoazarugiriko oversaw and helped create the sumptuous recipes.

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Source: ValuePress!

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Source: ValuePress!

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Source: ValuePress!

Kome To Circus’s summer insect festival is an event for all the brave diners out there, and if you happen to discover that you love what you taste, you can also attend their insect cooking class from 1-4PM on July 17th and 18th. You never know, bugs could be a lot tastier than you imagine!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.