Things About Japan

Last update August 28, 2025

Japanese Food - Fuki No Tō -


  

     

Fuki No Tō

Japanese Butterbur Shoots

When spring draws closer, animals start to awake from hibernation. Did you know what the first food just-awake bears eat is? -- Right, shoots of Fuki or Fuki No Tō, freshly out of the ground. Why? Is it because delicious? Or there's nothing else to eat? The answer is a special effect the plant has, which helps the animals cleanse their internal organs. No wonder it tastes refreshing. Probably for humans, too, eating this may not be bad for health. In any case, its unique flavour and mild bitterness is a harbinger of a long-awaited spring. So, tasting Tempura of Fuki No Tō, together with Tara No Me (Japanese angelica tree shoots) and Kogomi (ostrich fern) is an early spring eating pleasure we just can't miss! Fuki No Tō is also used to parepare Fuki Miso by mixing it with Miso.

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Fuki No Tō before cooking. 		japanese-food-fukinoto-tempura
Tempura of Fuki No Tō. 		japanese-food-fukinoto-miso
Fuki Miso made of Fuki No Tō and Miso.
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Fuki No Tō before cooking.

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Tempura of Fuki No Tō.

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Fuki Miso made of Fuki No Tō and Miso.