Takumi Saito discusses pufferfish culture at film event

Actor Takumi Saito and director Wataru Uno attended a stage greeting in Tokyo for the documentary film ‘GUN FISH: The World of Pufferfish You Don't Know’. The film explores Japan's unique culinary culture regarding pufferfish (fugu), focusing on the risks and research involved in consuming its toxins safely.

Saito, who provided the narration for the film, remarked on the Japanese spirit of investigating and transforming known toxins into a cultural staple, noting that such a pursuit might have led to bans in other countries. The documentary, which took approximately ten years to complete, covers the complexities of pufferfish chef licensing and the various perspectives of researchers and fishermen.

During the event, Saito also discussed his personal interest in digestive health, mentioning his recent visit to Yatsushiro, Kumamoto, to promote health awareness through toilet check sheets in facilities.