10-Year-Old Makes History as World’s Youngest Certified Chef to Prepare Deadly Pufferfish

Last year, a 10-year-old girl in southwest Japan went viral after becoming the youngest person in the country to pass the fugu preparation authorization test.

Karin Tabira, a fifth grader in Kumamoto, earned certification to safely handle the deadly pufferfish, a rare and highly dangerous delicacy.

Karin trained for six months at Fukunari, a Kumamoto-based fugu wholesaler, learning to fillet the poisonous fish and identify its lethal parts.

She took the fiscal 2024 exam in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which has no age restrictions, allowing her to become certified despite being only 10 years old.

The test included both an academic section on food sanitation and a practical demonstration of fugu preparation skills.

Out of 93 examinees, 60 passed, mostly professional chefs. Karin became the youngest certified fugu preparer at 10, breaking the previous record of 11.

Following her success, Karin was invited to prepare the deadly dish for Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura on August 22, 2024. She served a platter of fugu sashimi, which the governor praised.

“I’m glad to hear that it tasted good. It was difficult to cut and wash the skin during the exam,” Karin said.

While Karin is now certified, she cannot officially prepare fugu in Kumamoto until she turns 18.

However, she plans to continue honing her skills so that, when the time comes, she can safely offer the delicacy in her hometown, combining a lifelong passion with rigorous safety standards.