10/11/2008

Stonefish (okoze)

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Stonefish (okoze)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: See below
***** Category: Fish


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Explanation

kawa okoze 川おこぜ(かわおこぜ)
another name for
bullhead, kajika 鰍 (かじか) 杜父魚
kigo for all autumn

. . . CLICK here for kajika Photos !

Cottus pollux, sculpins


- - - - - not to mix up with

. kajika 河鹿, kajikagaeru 河鹿蛙 river frog .
Polypedates buergeri

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okoze 虎魚 (おこぜ, オコゼ ) stonefish
kigo for all summer

Goliath Tiger fish 乕魚


CLICK for more photos



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There are two species of 'stonefish', Synanceja verrucosa and Syanaceja horrida also known as the the reef stone or dornorn. They are carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives on reef bottoms, camouflaged as a rock.
The Stonefish is the most venomous fish in the world. Its dorsal area is lined with 13 spines that release venom from two sacs attached to each spine.

The average length of most stonefish is about 30-40 centimeters. The largest Stonefish ever recorded was 51 centimeters long. It has a mottled greenish to mostly brown colour which aids in its ability to camouflage itself among the rocks of many of the tropical reefs. It eats mostly small fish, shrimp and other crustaceans.

The primary commercial significance of the stonefish is as an aquarium pet, but they are also sold for their meat in Hong Kong markets. In addition, stonefish is also consumed in Japan as expensive sashimi cuisine (called okoze, オコゼ). Stonefish can survive out of water for up to 20 hours.
© More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Often ends up on the sushi plate.
Fish and Seafood ... SAIJIKI


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Worldwide use

Steinfisch, Kaulkopf, Spinnenfisch


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Things found on the way





Okoze from Bizen Pottery

source : 実法寺窯/ かしのきの里


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. Daruma-okoze [魚]ダルマオコゼ
monkey fish, Erosa erosa




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HAIKU


koi wa bi no okoze wa oni no samusa kana

beautiful like a carp
develish ugly like the devil stinger
--- this cold


Suzuki Masajo
Tr. Gabi Greve


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CLICK for more photos

鬼をこぜ 石にあらずと動きけり  
oniokoze ishi ni arazu to ugokikeri

"Demon Stonefish" ...
not being a stone
it moves   


Kato Shunson (Katoo Shunson) 加藤楸邨
Tr. Gabi Greve




oniokoze, oni-okoze オニオコゼ(鬼鰧、鬼虎魚)
Inimicus japonicus - devil stonefish

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. Japanese Legends - 伝説 民話 昔話 – ABC-List .

. Yamanokami 山の神様 Yama no Kamisama .
The God of the Mountain and legends about
okoze 虎魚 / 鰧魚 / オコゼ / ヲコゼ stonefish
okojo オコジョ dried Okoze


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Related words

***** Fish and Seafood ... SAIJIKI

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Gabi san,

Here is the original Japanese and our translations (chibi, Kosei Meiken, Sakuo Nakamura)

鯛は美のおこぜは醜の寒さかな

tai wa bi no
okoze wa oni no
samusa kana

sea bream’s beauty
the stonefish’s ugly squating
coldness!
(cooperative English translation: chibi, Kosei, Kokko)
-- Suzuki Masajo

Gabi Greve said...

Thank you very much, dear Anonymous!

I like to watch okoze ! I even got some made from Bizen pottery!

Gabi Greve - Basho archives said...

Matsuo Basho


かがり火(いさり火)にかじかや波の下むせび
漁り火に鰍や浪の下むせび
isaribi ni kajika ya nami no shita musebi
kagaribi ni . . .

by the fish-luring fires
a bullhead - under the waves
sobbing
Tr. Gabi Greve

Written in 1689 元禄2年7月.

In Yamanaka Hot spring there are 10 specialities, one of them the "Takase fish-luring fires" 高瀬の漁火".

Gabi Greve said...

Akita
yama no kami 山の神 Deity of the Mountain
This deity spends the summer in the fields (ta no kami) and the winter in the mountains.
It is a female deity and likes stonefish (okoze 虎魚, Okoji in local dialect).
She is also
o-san no kami お産の神 the deity of birth.
.
sanbi 産火 / 産忌 shinibi 死火 / 死忌 / 死に火 fire taboos for birth and death
.
http://heianperiodjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/04/sanbi-shinibi-fire-taboos.html
.

Gabi Greve said...

Umi no Kami 海の神 God of the Sea
Watatsumi, Wadatsumi, Kaijin 海神
.
https://japanshrinestemples.blogspot.com/2019/06/umi-no-kami-sea-legends.html
.