針灸讓壽司用的鮪魚更美味

《中英對照讀新聞》Acupuncture used to improve flavour of tuna for sushi／針灸讓壽司用的鮪魚更美味

◎鄭寺音

Their prized terriers are given samba-dancing lessons, their choicest beef herds are treated to daily massages and now, in an effort to produce the most delicious sushi in the world, Japanese tuna are to be given acupuncture.

他們得獎的■【更加犬字旁】犬接受森巴舞課程，最上等的肉牛每天接受按摩，現在，為了製造出世界上最美味的壽司，日本鮪魚將接受針灸。

The company in Osaka that patented the technique claimed that calm tuna thrashed about less in their death throes. Once the fish have received the brief treatment the blood becomes purer and the flesh has a better flavour, Toshiro Urabe, the president of the Osakana Planning Company, said.

這家將這種技巧申請專利的大阪公司宣稱，平靜的鮪魚在面臨死亡的痛苦時比較不會扭動，這家大阪魚企畫公司的社長卜部俊郎說，一旦這種魚接受簡短的處理，血液會變得比較純淨，肉的口感也會比較好。

The tuna do not need to be dosed with chemicals to keep them tasting fresh during transportation.

鮪魚不需要注射化學物品，讓牠們在運送的過程中保持新鮮的口味。

The acupuncture can be used on bream and the company plans to begin testing it on salmon.

針灸可以用在鯛魚，這家公司計畫開始在鮭魚上測試。

"With their costs rising every day, Japanese fishermen cannot compete in these markets any more," Mr Urabe said. "This is about giving them the chance to give the fish they catch added value."

卜部先生說：「他們的成本每天上漲，日本漁夫再也無法在這些市場競爭，這是給他們機會，讓他們捕到的魚增加價值。」

The treatment was exhibited at the International Japan Seafood Show but where the needles are inserted remains a secret.

這種處理方法在日本國際海鮮展上展示，但針要插在哪裡還是秘密。

Many of the exhibitors and buyers at the show said that a boom in the demand for sushi was pushing their businesses towards crisis. Japan, which used to be able to supply its own seafood, now has to import fish.

許多參展者與買家表示，壽司的需求暴增，反把他們的生意推向危機，過去海鮮可以自給自足的日本，現在魚也必須仰賴進口。

新聞辭典

choicest：choice當形容詞用時，指「上等的、精選的」，這裡是最高級的用法。例句：The shop was selling choice apples, so I bought 3 pounds.（那家店在賣上選蘋果，所以我買了3磅。）

thrash：翻跳，扭動。例句：Fishes thrashed about in the net.

（魚兒在網裡活蹦亂跳。）

death throes：名詞，處於臨終痛苦中。throe指劇痛。

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Comments：我知道這不是最近的新聞，而是一年以前的報導，不過如果這個針灸催眠的機制應用在研究上，對很多的研究都會造成突破性的發展，可惜，有專利保護了。