Every spine in the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins is venomous, and a sting causes intense pain lasting hours to days. The venom remains active after the fish dies, so a specimen in your cool box or rubbish bag is still dangerous. If stung, wash the wound, immerse it in water as hot as you can bear (around 45C), and seek medical care. Always unhook it with pliers and a fish grip, never bare-handed. Do not leave one lying on the pier, where the next person will stand on it: take it home or return it to the sea.
The liver, ovaries, skin and intestines contain tetrodotoxin, a potent toxin lethal in very small amounts and not destroyed by cooking. Preparing pufferfish requires a licensed pufferfish handler, and it is not legally permitted for an unlicensed person to prepare it. If you catch one, do not treat it as food: return it to the sea. This guide gives no preparation instructions for pufferfish of any kind.
Sharp teethWhere: 口（癒合した歯板）
Its fused tooth plates are strong enough to bite through leader, and a bitten finger will bleed. Keep bare hands away from its mouth.
The first spine of the dorsal and each pectoral fin carries a powerful venom; a sting causes intense pain lasting hours to days, and the venom remains active in a dead fish. If stung, wash the wound, immerse it in water as hot as you can bear (around 45C), and always seek medical care. Look for a catfish-like black body with yellow lengthwise stripes and barbels around the mouth. Sometimes the safest option is to cut the line and lose the hook, but never leave the fish on the ground: take it away or return it to the water.
Its teeth are extremely sharp and cut both line and leader with ease. Cutting a finger while removing a lure is a common accident: always use pliers and pin the fish before you start.
Rows of knife-like canines cut leader instantly. Grabbing one bare-handed causes deep lacerations, and a thrashing fish is itself dangerous. Always handle it with a fish grip and pliers, and never leave one loose at your feet in the dark.
A hard beak sits at the centre where the arms meet, and a bite can draw blood. Hold it by the body rather than the arms.
Venomous biteWhere: ※誤認注意：ヒョウモンダコ
The common octopus itself is not strongly venomous, but the highly venomous blue-ringed octopus can occur in the same places. It is small, around 20 cm, and when agitated shows vivid blue rings and lines. Its saliva contains tetrodotoxin and a bite can be life-threatening. Never touch a small octopus, or any octopus showing blue rings, with bare hands.
Its teeth are fused into plates strong enough to crush sea urchins and turban shells, and a finger placed in its mouth can be injured to the bone. Always unhook it with pliers.
The dorsal and gill-cover spines are sharp and go in deep if you grab the fish. It is not considered strongly venomous, but punctures can swell and become infected. Use a fish grip and pliers rather than your bare hand.
The dark red muscle is high in histidine, and as freshness drops it converts to histamine, a known cause of food poisoning with facial flushing and hives. Cooking does not destroy histamine. Bleed the fish immediately, pack it in ice, and never let it sit at ambient temperature. If you cannot keep it cold, do not take it home.
Sharp gill plateWhere: 尾の付け根・エラ蓋
Built for speed, with a hard, keeled tail base that can graze a bare hand holding a thrashing fish.
Anisakis larvae are common in this species and raw consumption is a known cause of severe abdominal pain. Gut the fish promptly, and if you intend to eat it raw, check the freezing and heating conditions published by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
It has a hard beak, called karasu-tonbi, that can break the skin if it bites. It also squirts ink forcefully, so hold it pointing out to sea to keep it off your clothes and the pier.
It bites with a hard beak, and it produces a great deal of ink. Point it out to sea when you lift it and let it discharge before bringing it onto the pier, and never leave the ink behind when you go.
The dorsal spines and gill covers are hard and sharp. There is no strong venom, but a puncture from gripping the fish can become infected. Handle it with a fish grip.
