A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Weird International Trade Rules (we deposit our logic at the entrance): I learned a new word today: chiritekihyouji (地理的表示), which is actually a legal term, called “geographical indication” (GI) in English. This is why, for example, Spanish Cava cannot be termed Champagne.
Among the fish that you probably don’t want to eat is the horsetail, which has nothing to do with horses or tails (たちうお, 太刀) but are apparently popular somewhere. This prompted Ashikita, in southern Kumamoto, to GI their brand with the grand name of “Taura Gindachi” (田浦銀太刀, ぎんだち). So be warned: If you buy a horsetail - which, remember, is neither horse nor tail - which has somehow wandered out of the Ashikita zone, it is not 田浦銀太刀 (but maybe you can get a discount). - William
