Things I didn't try early on: Kamaboko

When I first moved to Japan, kamaboko (those fish cakes that show up in various places, most commonly the swirly kind on ramen) looked beautiful, but I just didn't try it. Part of it was hesitation, since it seemed so different from anything I'd eaten back home, and I wasn't sure how fish paste molded into a shape could actually taste.

That changed on a monitor tour I took to Hokkaido, where we got to visit a kamaboko shop and factory. Getting to try it fresh was probably the best first experience I could have had with it. 

I wouldn't say it is a food that I actively seek out, but getting to try it super fresh (and seeing how it is made) was a really interesting experience!