“MUSHI-YA TOKYO ueno” spreads the delicious flavors of insect cuisine

Insect food is attracting more and more attention as a protein in the future that will mitigate the food crisis. While intrigued, some people may hesitate, thinking, “It’s a little scary to eat something I’ve never experienced before.”

What do people think when they eat insects? I visited “MUSHI-YA TOKYO ueno,” an insect cuisine specialty store that opened in January 2023 in Ueno Ameyoko Center Building.

The store pre-opened in December 2022, and for about a month, it had been refining the menu while incorporating customer feedback. This time, I tried the recommended menu, the salt- and pepper-flavored “Large Cricket Skewers.”

At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the appearance of the crickets which are “truly insects.” When I started eating it though, it tasted like a refreshing skewer of meat and was delicious. The crunchy texture on the surface is also pleasant. Once I experienced the deliciousness, I stopped worrying about the appearance of the crickets.

According to Kondo of MUSHI-YA TOKYO ueno, the shop’s insect food is popular among a wide range of people regardless of age, gender and nationality. It is even well-liked among children.

It seems that many people stop in front of the store and take pictures with great interest. For those who are unsure whether to eat it or not, the shop staff explain that the insects are cultivated for food and that they can eat insects with peace of mind.

Occasionally, people come to try to feed each other insects as a punishment game, but Kondo is concerned about such ways of consumption. If he sees someone trying to start a punishment game by playing rock-paper-scissors in front of the store, he stops them.

“Our insects are delicious and highly nutritious. They are not meant to be eaten as punishment,” says Kondo.

There is a widespread misconception that entomophagy is a “bad-tasting food that is eaten as a punishment,” or that there are high hurdles to purchasing insect food. MUSHI-YA TOKYO ueno regards itself as a place for popularizing insect food by providing many people with the opportunity of trying it and experiencing the delightful taste.

“Insects should not be eaten by force, but should be viewed as a food option. If many people eat insects, the market scale will grow, and if we can provide insect dishes at a low price, more people can eat insects. I would be happy if the accumulation of such experiences by each person will lead to the achievement of the broader mission of the SDGs.”

When I was eating crickets, passers-by were glancing at me. It seems that many people are interested in eating insects. Won’t you join me next time and try insect cuisine for yourself?

Originally published on IDEAS FOR GOOD.
Translated by Mari Kozawa.