The famous Kuromon Market is located on the south side of Sennichimae street in the center of Osaka City.  It is a super-large shopping street with a total length of 580m.  At the end of the year, many people come from all over Osaka in search of New Year’s ingredients.  A popular ingredient is Fugu(blowfish).  People in Osaka call this Fugu “Teppo(gun)” or “Tetsu(iron)”.  Fugu is extremely poisonous and has come to be called “Teppo” because it means “it will die if it hits”, and the abbreviation for “Teppo” is “Tetsu”.  Fugu sashimi is also called “Tessa”, which is an abbreviation for “iron sashimi”.  Basho’s haiku is an interesting phrase that says, “Oh, nothing is happening today.  Yesterday has passed.  Although I ate fugu juice yesterday” (I ate fugu soup at the risk of my life, but when I woke up the next morning, nothing happened. I was relieved).  Anyway, winter Fugu is so delicious.

大阪市中心部の千日前の南側に有名な黒門市場があります。総延長580mの超大型商店街です。年末には大阪の各地からお正月の食材を求めて多くの人が押し寄せます。人気の食材はふぐです。このふぐを大阪の人達は「鉄砲」とか「鉄」とかよびます。ふぐには猛毒があり、「当たると死ぬ」という意味から「鉄砲」と呼ばれる様になり、その「鉄砲」の略称が「鉄」です。ふぐの刺身を「てっさ」と呼ぶのも「鉄の刺身」を略称した呼び名です。芭蕉の句に「あら何ともなや昨日は過ぎて河豚汁」(内心、命がけで河豚汁（ふぐとじる）を食したが、翌朝目覚めてみれば、何ともなかった。ホッとした)と云う面白い句がありますが、冬のふぐはそんなに美味しいわけです。