WARNING graphic content: Dancing-squid rice-bowl dish (ika odori-don, a variation of ikezukuri) – is the squid still alive or dead?

A veterinary student at Murdoch asked me an interesting question about this Japanese “zombie” squid dish.

She recently came across an article about the dancing squid dish from Japan, and had been trying to find out more about the science behind it. Here is the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2013/02/12/dancing-squid-dead-cuttlefish-soy-sauce_n_2663377.html?ir=Australia

Or

She was trying to find out whether the squid really dead. Is it true about the sodium from the soy sauce being taken up in this way to cause the contractions? Are there any welfare issues involved in this dish? 

I found a link to another useful video to explain the physiology behind it. In short, yes the squid is really dead.

Take a look at this –
https://youtu.be/JGPfSSUlReM

Feel free to make comments. What do your friends think of it?

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh 

DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA. 

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383