And then, the next morning. We finally had the chance to meet Mr. Masahiro Takiguchi, renowned as a legendary hunter. HOSHINOYA Fuji has been offering an activity called the "Hunting Experience Tour to Learn About Life and Food" every autumn and winter since 2017. This wild activity involves venturing into the forest in the Motosu Lake area, where Mr. Takiguchi hunts, and observing the hunting and butchering of the caught game up close.

I heard that there are even repeat participants every year. I had also heard that Mr. Takiguchi's influence was a key reason why HOSHINOYA Fuji focuses so much on game meat, and as a game meat enthusiast, I had always wanted to participate. Finally, that day had arrived!

Mr. Eisuke Furuya, Mr. Takiguchi's top disciple, came to pick us up at HOSHINOYA Fuji. We headed towards the Motosu Lake area, where Mr. Takiguchi hunts, in a car driven by Mr. Furuya, who works as a diving instructor during the summer.

Mr. Takiguchi and his team use trap hunting. They set traps on animal trails, and if an animal is caught the next morning, they dispatch it on the spot and bleed it. The process involves transporting it to the "Game Meat Processing Facility," where Mr. Takiguchi serves as director, for further detailed butchering. For lunch, they serve game meat dishes from "Matsukaze," a restaurant run by Mr. Takiguchi. In essence, it's a tour dedicated to game meat.

*Images of hunting scenes will follow. Please be advised.

After an initial barrage of stories, including Mr. Takiguchi's tale of "a bear that came to eat me," we set off under the guidance of Mr. Takiguchi and Mr. Furuya into the forest adjacent to the Aokigahara Jukai, where the traps were set.

I wondered if a deer had been caught, hoping it hadn't, but also eager to witness the hunt since we came all this way. Various thoughts swirled in my mind, when suddenly—there it was! We immediately encountered a deer caught in a trap. "It's a two-year-old female, born last spring," Mr. Takiguchi declared without hesitation.

Mr. Takiguchi first addresses the deer: "Deer! I will take your life, but I promise to eat you deliciously." He then strikes the deer's head to cause a concussion, followed by dispatching it (by inserting a knife into its neck). Afterward, he performs heart massage for bleeding and also drains blood from the thigh.

It is said that the taste of game meat varies greatly depending on the individual animal, how it is hunted, butchering techniques, and especially the bleeding process. If the bleeding is not done properly, a gamey odor can remain. Since this was a hunting experience tour, we were able to closely observe the butchering process.

"This should be sufficient," said Mr. Takiguchi. With skillful knife work, the deer, which just minutes before looked like a beloved pet, was transformed into a mass of meat in an instant. I could only watch with my mouth agape, and it took me some time to truly grasp the realization, "This is how life is received."

The butchering proceeded rapidly, separating the loin, inner loin, front leg, and hind leg.

"The meat is still pulsing, isn't it? This is proof of proper processing, and it also signifies receiving the meat of a living creature."

The pulsing mass of meat, with its cut surfaces shining golden, was, according to Mr. Takiguchi, "proof of deliciousness!" The properly processed inner loin, he explained, continues to move for 7 to 10 minutes, as if unaware of its own death.

"If you place the meat on the snow, it might move like a snake."

I thought, "Surely that's a joke?" but it seems this is also true. ... My apologies.

The expression of the deer, pleading for its life before being dispatched, is still etched in my memory. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the venison (not from this deer!) and wild boar meat served for lunch (personally, I recommend the venison curry).

My life remains unchanged. I will continue to eat meat. Not just game meat, but all meat.

Still, since witnessing the moment the deer became meat up close that day, I have felt a stronger desire to savor the life given to me, to eat it deliciously and with as little waste as possible. For a foodie like myself, being able to witness firsthand "how to make delicious game meat" was an invaluable experience.

After all, game meat, raised on food from nature and having roamed freely in the great outdoors, cannot possibly be anything but delicious. Furthermore, the processing, including bleeding, is perfect, thanks to the skills of experienced hunters.

Ah, I really want people who dislike game meat to try this...

That day, I became a self-proclaimed evangelist for game meat.

HOSHINOYA Fuji
Address: 1408 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car from Kawaguchiko IC
Number of Rooms: 40
Rates: From ¥101,000 per night (per room, including tax and service charge, meals not included)
*Ingredients and menu may change depending on availability.

"Hunting Experience Tour to Learn About Life and Food" Overview
Period: Limited to Fridays from October 7 to December 16, 2022
Price: ¥72,600 per person (including tax and service charge) *Accommodation fee separate
Capacity: 1 group per day (2-4 people) *Ages 15 and up
Time: From 8:30 AM
Reservations: Accepted up to 2 weeks in advance on the official website (https://hoshinoya.com/fuji/)
Attire/What to Bring: Comfortable clothing and shoes
Includes: Accompanying the hunt, observation/experience of deer butchering, lunch, rubber boot rental,
Dinner: "Game Meat Dinner"
Notes: Participation is on dates other than the arrival and departure dates of HOSHINOYA Fuji.
Hunting methods may vary depending on the situation.
In case of bad weather, the content may be partially changed or canceled.
Menu items may change depending on ingredient availability.

Sample Schedule
8:30 AM: Depart from HOSHINOYA Fuji
9:00 AM: Arrive at Lake Motosu, orientation
9:30 AM: Depart for the hunting experience tour
12:00 PM: Lunch indoors by Lake Motosu
1:30 PM: Observation and experience of deer butchering
4:00 PM: Arrive at HOSHINOYA Fuji
6:30 PM: Enjoy game meat at the "Game Meat Dinner"