It is my understanding that chefs in Japan who are certified to be
able to safely prepare fugu (blowfish) sushi are allowed or required
to hang a sign with a particular symbol over the door to their
establishment. What is this symbol?

Hello Xof~

Since 1958, Japanese chefs must be licensed in order to serve fugu.
The government offers a three-part exam; there?s a written test, a
fugu species identification test, and a cooking test where the chef
must clean, detoxify and fillet the fish in a short amount of time.
Only about 50% of applicants pass this test. Nonetheless, most reports
state that 70 to 100 people a year die from eating fugu (mostly from
fish prepared at home), and 100 to 200 fugu- eaters shows signs of
poisoning.

Japanese restaurants that carry fugu are identified by a picture or
3-D model of a blowfish hung outside or in the window. This is not a
requirement?-just good marketing. All that?s required by law is for
the chef to pass the test and be licensed before serving fugu.

Here is one example of a 3-D fugu in front of a Japanese restaurant:
http://www.dollarshort.org/galleries/japan_20030122/DSCN2003.html
(Dollar Short.org)

And another example:
http://www.travelphoto.net/photos/english/japan/E7.htm (Travel Photo)

Here?s an example from a market (as you can see, there are several
varieties of the fish): http://www.okinawa.com/heiwa-fugu.JPG
(Okinawa.com)

And a sign: http://theducks.org/gallery/japan/fugu_fish (Theducks.org)

Here?s a fugu ad (bottom left):
http://www.akasi.com/anjyu/newpage7.htm (Akashi Online)


Finally, for some fun reading about fugu, check out ?Japan?s Kamikaze
Kuisine,? by Nancy Lyon (Travel Intelligence):
http://www.travelintelligence.net/wsd/articles/art_1784.html

Regards,
Kriswrite

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