Taste & Texture
Well-balanced light umami with moderate fat. Versatile — sashimi, salt-grilled, or fried. In season twice: spring to early summer (fattiest) and autumn (firmer flesh)
Season
How to Choose
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Clear eyes, bright red gills, firm flesh.
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Distinct 'zeigo' (scutes near the tail) indicates freshness.
How to Store
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Remove entrails, wrap in paper towels, refrigerate 1-2 days.
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Fileted and frozen, keeps 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts
ENERGY CONTENT
112
KCAL
Source: Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th ed.) 2020
Monthly Supply Volume
Supply Peak
Source: MAFF Seafood Distribution Survey (monthly cold-storage inflow) (2024). Monthly cold-storage inflow — used as a supply-signal proxy when national monthly wholesale prices are not published.
Retail Price
Price Trend
Annual Average
¥138/100g
Source: Statistics Bureau Retail Price Survey (2026)
Top Landing Prefectures
Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)
Source: MAFF Marine Fisheries Production Statistics (wild catch) (2023)
Top 5 Prefecture Production Trends (2018-2023)
Consumption Ranking
National Average (annual spending per household)
Source: Statistics Bureau Family Income and Expenditure Survey (2024, two-or-more-person households, prefectural capital cities)