Things I didn't try early on: Unagi

When I first moved to Japan, I don't think I'd ever even heard of unagi before. It likely would have felt a bit confronting for little old me who was still adjusting to things like natto and raw egg on rice. My husband, however, absolutely loves unagi. He spent a decent chunk of his childhood here because of his father's work, and to him he saw it as a little bit of comfort food and luxury all at once. After years of watching his enthusiasm and fielding his encouragement to "just try a bite," I finally decided to give it a proper chance after a few years.

I think it was a pleasant surprise, since there wasn't any strong fishiness that I had anticipated, and the sauce pairs really nicely with it. Looking back, I realized my hesitation had more to do with unfamiliarity than anything else, and I think that's probably been the case with a lot of the things I didn't try in my earlier years here.