[/floatr]Asahi: 16th-century rice balls found in castle ruins
A group of 16th-century samurai might have died hungry as their castle went up in flames during a family feud. Researchers announced the discovery of what appear to be four charred onigiri rice balls from the ruins of Samegao castle here. They speculated that the rice balls, now hardened to stone and found during excavations in 2006, may have been part of their final meal...The National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, said there can be "little doubt" that the rice balls were exposed to fire when the castle fell in 1579...Experts said the rice balls apparently retained their original forms without damage from micro-organisms because the flames effectively steam-roasted them...more...
The onigiri were subsequently labelled with a new expiration date and sold in a local convenience store.
