Blowfish, washoku win Michelin stars as Tokyo keeps gourmet crown

Tokyo has kept its crown as the Michelin guide's gourmet capital on with the most starred restaurants for an eight straight year, in the first guide released since Unesco, the United Nations cultural agency, listed Japanese "washoku" cuisine an "intangible cultural heritage".

Among the establishments that gained three-star ratings in the 2015 Michelin guide to Tokyo, was one that serves poisonous blowfish and a traditional eatery whose chef at first thought his win was a joke.

The guide, which used to include the neighbouring city of Yokohama and the coastal Shonan area, was limited to Tokyo this year to allow a wider listing of Japanese food in the "Bib Gourmand" section that emphasizes cheaper restaurants, Michelin said.

For the first time, the guide lists several eateries serving chanko nabe, a rich stew that helps sumo wrestlers pack on weight, as well as several specialising in cuisine featuring loach, a type of fish.

As many as 267 restaurants gained stars, 19 of them for the first time. The coveted three-star rating, the Michelin guide's top honour, went to 12 restaurants.