The Japanese have long been known for their dexterousness. From origami to bonsai to precision engineering, Japan does small and detailed incredibly well. One thing we had no idea they were so good at, however, was gross.
What you see in the above photo, dear reader, is not in fact a trio of insect larvae but delicious, blueberry-filled gummy bugs. And they’re making one little coffee stand in northwest Japan very famous.
Akai Tento no Koohii Ten (The Red Tent Coffee Shop) is a small market stall that serves a small fishing harbour on the east coast of Aomori Prefecture. Despite its size and limited hours of operation, Akai Tento has steadily built up a name for itself and has been featured both in print and on national TV and radio. Why? Because they serve creepy-crawlies.
Not to worry, though, these aren’t the kind of bugs that you might be dared to eat during a trip to Thailand or on a bush walk in Australia. These are all hand-made and filled with delicious, sweet fillings rather than real-life insect goo.
But that’s not to say that Akai Tento’s bugs aren’t anatomically correct. The Kabutomushi Youchuu Gumi (rhinoceros beetle larvae) pictured below, for example, are made with a realistic-looking blueberry jam-flavoured “innards” that can be squeezed out of their pale white bodies, which themselves are said to taste like popular yogurt-flavoured soft drink Calpis. Mmmm!
Akai Tento doesn’t just do larvae, though! You can find all manner of delicious, yet disgusting-looking, creatures to eat in front of your friends and coworkers!
▼ “I didn’t want to touch them, so I ate these with chopsticks!”
Each of Akai Tento’s gruesome gummies is available to buy individually or in packs (or perhaps that should be clutches?) via Yahoo! Japan Shopping, and cost between 300 and 350 yen (US$2.80-3.20) each. If you’re in Japan, you might want to stock up in time for Halloween–the kids will either think you’re the coolest person in the world for having such amazing treats, or they’ll refuse them entirely, leaving you with mountains of delicious, gooey insects to cram into your hungry shout-hole.
Photos via Akai Tento, Yahoo! Shopping
[ Read in Japanese ]
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Dragon Quest Burgers and Slime drinks are coming to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
Rakuten randomly offers 58 New Year’s osechi feasts in Japan, but did we get a star or a dud?
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
The results are in! One Piece World Top 100 characters chosen in global poll
Godzilla-shaped ice cream on sale in Tokyo near the sight his most adorable rampage
Dragon Quest Burgers and Slime drinks are coming to McDonald’s Japan【Video】
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 500 million yen【Vid】
Eight-year-old boy gets stopped at the airport for a suspicious bulge in his pants
A creepy new wrinkle to Japan’s chikan train groper schemes, and how to counter it
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Tokyo fish market breaks New Year auction record as single fish sells for over 500 million yen【Vid】
Eight-year-old boy gets stopped at the airport for a suspicious bulge in his pants
A creepy new wrinkle to Japan’s chikan train groper schemes, and how to counter it
Hayao Miyazaki settles in-studio Ghibli debate on best fried egg topping, Internet not convinced
Free to download Japanese marriage applications are cute, stylish, and legally binding
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
Japan’s number-one cosplayer Enako sparks heated debate after revealing insane 2020 income
Put your kitsune up! BABYMETAL is set to dominate the world with ‘dangerous kawaii’【Interview】
The Japanese art of making trash containers from old papers
The mystery of the phantom “sake pass card” at Japanese alcohol vending machines
Leave a Reply