Small marbled rockfish (Kasago) are best deep-fried or simmered, while good-sized ones are also tasty as sashimi.What is Marbled rockfish (Kasago)? Marbled rockfish (Kasago) can be found anywhere along the coast from southern Hokkaido to the East China Sea. It lives in the shadows of reefs and blocks from the coast to depths of about 60m to 200m. A voracious carnivorous fish, it preys on crustaceans such as small shrimps, polychaetes such as ragworm, and small fish such as gobies. Body color varies from dark brown, reddish, to blackish, and there is a great deal of variation depending on the e ..read more

Rockfish (Mebaru) is one of the primary fish found in the coastal waters of Japan. Characterized by their large bulged eyes, rockfish are highly prized species. There are a variety of types of rockfish (mebaru) in Japan.What is Rockfish (Mebaru)? Rockfish (Mebaru) are distributed over a relatively wide area from southern Hokkaido to Kyushu, the Korean Peninsula, and elsewhere. They inhabit rocky reefs at depths of 50 to 150 meters. The length of the fish is 20-25 cm. There are several species of rockfish (Mebaru): Aka-mebaru (Sebastes inermis Cuvier,1829), Kuro-mebaru (Sebastes ventricosus Tem ..read more

In academic terms, “fermentation” is a reaction that uses no oxygen to break down carbohydrates to obtain energy. On the other hand, the reaction that uses oxygen to break down organic matter to obtain energy is called “respiration”. In more familiar terms, microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, koji-mold, and yeast break down organic compounds such as carbohydrates and proteins to produce a variety of by-products to obtain energy in their own life activities. Among these, “fermentation” is a phenomenon in which beneficial substances are produced for humans, while “putrefaction” is a ph ..read more

Barfin flounder (Matsukawagarei) is large flat fish inhabiting cold sea water basins in the northern Pacific off Japan. It is suitable for aquaculture and resource enhancement in Hokkaido due to its high commercial value and growth rate at low temperatures.What is Barfin flounder (Matsukawagarei)? Barfin flounder (Matsukawagarei) is distributed along the Pacific coast north of Ibaraki Prefecture and in the Sea of Japan north of Toyama Prefecture, the southern Sea of Okhotsk, and the Kurile Islands. It inhabits sandy muddy areas at depths of up to 200 m, feeding mainly on crustaceans and small ..read more

Silver pomfret (Managatsuo) is a very tasty fish. In the Kansai region, it is such a high-class fish that it is served at Kyoto’s top-class ryotei restaurants, and if fresh, sashimi is said to be superb.What is Silver pomfret (Managatsuo)? Silver pomfret (Managatsuo) is distributed in a wide range of waters from Hokkaido to the southern Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean, the Seto Inland Sea, the Ariake Sea and other seas around Japan to the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean. They feed on crustaceans such as jellyfish and krill as well as plankton while migrating in schools ..read more

Bigeyed greeneye (Mehikari) was not often on the dinner table as a small fish in the past, but it seems that modern tastes have gradually caught up with it because of its lightness and abundant fat content characteristic of white fish.What is Bigeyed greeneye (Mehikari)? Bigeyed greeneye (Mehikari) is distributed south of Sagami Bay to the East China Sea. They live in groups on continental shelf slopes at depths of 200 to 600 meters. Mehikari (standard Japanese name is Aome-eso) with large, striking green eyes are about 20 cm long. Its body is elongated and cylindrical, and it has an issuer ar ..read more

Flying fish (Tobiuo) can be seen jumping out of warm ocean waters worldwide. It is thought to have evolved this remarkable gliding ability to escape predators, of which they have many. Their pursuers include mackerel, tuna, swordfish, marlin, and other larger fish.What is Flying fish (Tobiuo)? Flying fish (Tobiuo) is distributed in warm seas south of central Honshu and around Taiwan, living in the surface layer from the coast to offshore. Its body length is about 30 cm. Its body is long and slender, and its pectoral fins are large and wing-like, used for flying above the sea surface. It migrat ..read more

Whitebait (Shirasu) is a generic term used worldwide to describe small fish, often juveniles, which are collected in quantity and eaten whole.What is Whitebait (Shirasu)? Whitebait (Shirasu) is a generic name for juvenile fish without pigmentation, such as Pacific sand lance, Japanese eel, Japanese anchovy, Japanese sardine, round herring, Ayu, and Pacific herring. The most commonly seen Whitebait (Shirasu) in the market is the Japanese anchovy. Japanese sardine spawns from winter to spring, round herring from April to June, and Japanese anchovy spawns all year round, but spawning peaks especi ..read more

The main habitat of blackfin seabass (Hirasuzuki) will be a rough ocean facing the open sea from autumn to spring, and it will not catch a calm day and catch when it becomes rough weather.What is Blackfin Seabass (Hirasuzuki)? Blackfin Seabass (Hirasuzuki) prefer warmer waters and are distributed south of the Boso Peninsula on the Pacific Ocean side, and south of Hokuriku on the Sea of Japan side, as well as in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Juveniles and young fish may be found near estuaries that connect to the open ocean, but as they mature, they move to areas of higher salinity ..read more

Because it loses its freshness quickly, the average supermarket is unlikely to find fresh eating silver croaker (Ishimochi or Shiroguchi). The high-moisture content of the silver croaker is said to make it an exquisite dish when grilled with salt.What is Silver croaker (Ishimochi)? Silver croaker (Ishimochi or Shiroguchi) is distributed in the Tohoku region and southwards, the East China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the western Pacific Ocean. It is mainly found on sandy mud bottoms at depths of 20~140m. Its body color is shiny silvery white with somewhat indistinct black spots on the tops of its ..read more