Hotaru koi – ほたるこい

Hotaru koi” is a song sung during “firefly hunting,” a time when people enjoy watching and catching fireflies at dusk in early summer.

About 2,000 species of fireflies have been discovered worldwide, and there are terrestrial and aquatic fireflies, depending on where they spend their larval stage. Aquatic fireflies drink only water as adults, which is probably why they sang about the taste of water.

Fireflies are said to live only in places with clean water, and fireflies can often be seen dancing in groups in mountain streams with wasabi fields, where the water is cool and clear, also in summer.

Wasabi is a typical Japanese spice, especially essential for sushi, sashimi, and soba (buckwheat noodles). Most processed powdered wasabi or tube wasabi is mixed with horseradish or Japanese wasabi, and Japanese wasabi is sometimes called “hon wasabi” to distinguish it from other wasabi. By using a sharkskin grater to grind the Wasabi, the particles become smooth and creamy, and the original spiciness can be tasted. Wasabi-flavored ice cream is also available.

Recently, some hotels have been holding elaborate events such as “Firefly Evening.