However, in 1888, when Hirobumi ITO visited Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, he ate pufferfish and was so impressed that he approached the governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, paving the way to lifting the ban on eating pufferfish.
1888年に、伊藤博文が下関を訪問した際にふぐを食べ、その味に感嘆した伊藤は山口県知事に働きかけて、山口県下ではふぐ食が解禁された。