Get kids excited at the autumn food party! Trivia quiz and fun facts

Pacific saury

Pacific saury is a fish that represents autumn, and its long, slender body resembles a blade, which is why its name literally means “autumn sword fish.” It’s a hallmark flavor of the season, often enjoyed grilled with salt. Rich in high-quality fats and DHA, Pacific saury is known as a highly nutritious fish and is an essential presence on the dining table.

ohagi (sweet rice balls coated with red bean paste)

On the Autumnal Equinox, there is a custom of eating ohagi (sweet rice cakes). They are made from the same ingredients as botamochi eaten on the Vernal Equinox, but the name changes based on the season’s flowers. The ohagi eaten during the autumn Higan period are named after the bush clover (hagi) that blooms in autumn, hence the name “ohagi.”

burr

The spiky outer husk of a chestnut is called an “iga.” Inside the iga is the chestnut nut, enclosed in a hard outer shell called onikawa, where it’s well protected as it grows. In autumn, chestnuts are enjoyed as a seasonal delicacy, often cooked into dishes like chestnut rice and served at the table.

Pacific saury

Pacific saury, now popular as a taste of autumn, was not very well liked in the Edo period. People in Edo at the time disliked its greasiness and distinctive odor, and because it was considered an inexpensive fish eaten by commoners, it is said to have been unpopular.

Mushroom

There’s a story that when lightning strikes, mushrooms have a bumper harvest. It sounded like a fairy tale, but when researchers actually generated artificial lightning and conducted experiments, the yield reportedly increased! It seems various experiments are still being carried out on this topic.