MEICHIADAI – Gray Large-eye bream
MEICHIADAI – Gray Large-eye bream – Kyushu
Meichidai is not a widely known fish in the seafood market, but it is one of the best fish during the summer season. Many white meat fishes, such as Madai, have less fat content in the summer, and this lowers its quality of taste. However, for Meichidai, summer is when it has the most fat and tastes the best. Meichidai is a rare fish on the market, but when it is available, we use the “Asajime” method the same morning and ship it.
知る人ぞ知る夏のベスト！真鯛など脂が落ちる夏に脂がのるメイチダイは大型でも40センチまで大体700グラムが福岡から出る一般的なサイズです。貴重な魚のためなかなか手に入りませんが、入荷がある時は活魚を朝締めで出荷します。
TOBIUO – Flyingfish
TOBIUO – Flyingfish – Kouchi / Kagoshima
Tobiuo is in season. The market price of this fish is reasonable all year long. Tobiuo sashimi is very delicious. Other recommended cooking methods for this fish is to eat it as dried fish or as “Namerou” (a type of “tataki”)
トビウオが美味しい季節です。手頃な価格で買える魚です。 刺身にしても十分に美味しく、その他干物などにも良く使われます。なめろうなどにしても美味しさを味わえます。
AJI “IZUMI/GENCHAN” – Horse mackerel
Aji – Horse mackerel – Kagoshima / Genkainada
There are the migratory black horse mackerel and the basin-dwelling yellow horse mackerel. The “Genchan Aji” are black horse mackerel, and the “Izumi Aji” are yellow horse mackerel that stay in coastal bays. Please use either kind of mackerel to suit your preference.
アジは回遊型の黒アジ、内湾型の黄アジがありますが、玄ちゃんアジは黒アジ、出水アジは瀬 付きの黄アジです。好みに合わせて２種類のアジをお使いください。
AWABI – Abalone
Awabi – Avalone – Nagasaki
In the Chikuzen-sea, there are three subspecies for Awabi, but the Awabi most harvested out of those three is the Kuro-Awabi. (Saga, Nagasaki and Fukuoka: large size of 300g and up).
アワビの仲間は筑前海に3種類いますが、最も獲れているのはクロアワビです。500g 以上の大型は高値で取引されます。佐賀、長崎、福岡 300グラムアップの大型です。
MAHATA – Grouper
Mahata – Grouper – Nagasaki / Genkainada
Many types of grouper can be enjoyed in Kyushu. Sevenband grouper (Mahata) is the most recommended for this season. Although it is a fish that is not well-distributed among other markets, it is often found in the markets of Fukuoka. The firm texture of the fish is delectable enjoyed as thin-slices.
色々なハタが穫れる九州ですが、この時期は真ハタがおすすめ。他の市場には殆ど流通しない魚ですが、福岡市場では良く見かけます。歯ごたえのある身はうす造りして絶品。
YAZU / INADA– Young Yellowtail
Inada (Yazu) – Yellowtail Young – Saga / Nagasaki / Fukuoka
Yazu is a “Shusseuo” name of young yellowtail in Fukuoka area market. It has less fatty meat compare to Buri. It has elegant sweetness and satisfying texture.
ブリの若魚で、地方によっては違う呼び名になります。脂が乗ったブリに比べるとさっぱりとした爽やかな味わいで、ハリのある食感が特徴です。価格もてごろで刺身・照り焼・から揚げなどが美味です。
HIRAMASA – Yellowtail Amberjack
HIRAMASA – Yellowtail Amberjack – Fukuoka
This fish doesn’t have as much fat as Buri, but has more fat and “umami” content compared to Kanpachi.
ブリほど脂は多くなく、カンパチよりも脂、旨みが多い魚で、鮮度の良い物は刺身でこりこりした食感を、一日ほど寝かしたものは、まったりとした旨みを味わえます。
OUGON ANAGO – Conger Eel
Anago – Conger eel – Fukuoka
Anago that is raised on the western offshore of Tsushima with abundant, high quality food, has a larger body than the common anago with better fat content as well. It really is the golden anago like its name says.
対馬の西沖でとれたアナゴは良質な餌を食べているために大きく育ち、脂が乗っている黄金のあなごです。
KAWAHAGI – File Fish
Kawahagi – File fish – Nagasaki / Genkainada
Kawahagi and umazurahagi (horse-faced filefish, or “membo” in the local dialect) are available. The name “kawahagi” comes from “cooking with the skin.” Umazurahagi catches have been increasing in recent years, and this fish is used to produce dried fish. This fish can be enjoyed as sashimi or simmered in a soy broth. It can also be cooked in a clay pot. Kawahagi’s liver is also prized as a rich-tasting delicacy.
筑前海ではカワハギと、顔が長いウマヅラハギ（方言：メンボ）が獲れます。カワハギの名は「皮をはいで調理する」ところからきています。 近年、ウマヅラハギの漁獲が増えており、干物の加工原料になります。身は刺身・煮つけにして美味しく、なべ物などにもします。 またキモ（肝臓）はその濃厚な味わいが珍重されています。
KISU – Smelt/whitings
Kisu – Smelt / whitings – Genkainada
Kisu, which migrate toward towards the shore to lay their eggs, are allowed be caught beginning in May, and from that time you can see lots of fresh fish of this species in stores. Kisu prefers the clean sands at the bottom of the ocean. The beautiful waters around Shiga Island abound with high-quality kisu. To maintain the freshness of this fish, fisherman learn the technique of releasing the hook from the fish without touching it.
産卵のため岸近くに回遊してきたキスを獲るそうごち網・流しさし網漁業が5月に解禁されて、新鮮なキスが店頭にならびます。きれいな砂の海底を好む魚で、綺麗な海が広がる志賀島は良質なキスが良く穫れる漁場となっています。
SUZUKI – Japanese Sea Bass
Suzuki – Japanese sea bass
In the Japan fish market, when this fish is compared to Madai (sea-bream), the name value is lower but the taste is just as good. Roasting with some skin left on enhances the delicious taste.
白身魚の代表格です。洗いにして食べられたり、焼き物に良く使われますが、フレンチでも良く使われる素材でもあります。クセのない味わいは、納得の美味しさです。
ISHIDAI – Striped Beakfish
Ishidai – Striped bakefish – Kyushu
Thinly sliced striped beakfish is translucent with a firm texture, an ever-delicate sweetness, and an “Umami” flavor. It has a much richer flavor than Japanese sea bass and flathead, the most notorious of summer fish. Ways to enjoy this fish include: “Arai” style slices, simmered fish, steaming, salt-grilling, meuniere, and “Ushiojiru”salt broth. Also good is to remove the skin, boil and make thin slices with a garnish of julienned ginger and scallions with lemon juice, or wrapping them on bamboo skewer and grilling until crisp, seared with soy sauce or salt and lemon juice.
薄造りにしたイシダイの身は透き通り、歯ごたえがあってほのかな甘味と確かな旨味が広がります。同じく夏魚の代表のスズキやコチよりも濃厚な味わいです。洗いや煮付け、蒸し物、塩焼き、ムニエル、うしお汁などでどうぞ。皮はゆがいて細切りし、ねぎしょうがの千切りをあしらってレモン汁で、あるいは竹串に巻いてカリカリに焼き、醤油をたらすか塩とレモン汁でも。酒の肴に最適です。
ISAKI – Japanese Grunt fish
Isaki – Japanese grunt fish – Kyushu
The best season for Isaki comes around early summer, which is when Isaki ride the Tsushima current through the offshore area of Iki Island and arrive at the Chikuzen Sea to lay eggs.
Isaki travel in flocks, and these flocks are often seen in places like artificial reefs. It is a white meat fish with a unique flavor and the perfect amount of fat, which can be enjoyed especially with the large-sized Isakis.
イサキは産卵のため、対馬暖流に乗って壱岐沖を通り、旬を迎える初夏頃に筑前海にやってきます。 特に餌の豊富な大島産のイサキは脂ののりが特別で必見のイサキです。漁場となっています。
AORI-IKA – Cuttlefish
Aori Ika – Cuttlefish – Kyushu
Aoriika is known as the king of squids, and its sashimi is considered to be of the finest quality in the squid family. Its flesh is rich in sweetness and is very soft but also has a good amount of strength in texture. It is a very popular and crucial item used in Edomae style sushi and tempura.
イカの王様、高級鮨ネタのアオリイカ、身が透き通っていて、ミズイカとも呼ばれています。ミズイカひきと呼ぶ釣で漁獲された身が厚い２キロの大型は最高です。
OUGON HAMO – Pike Conger
Hamo – Pike eel (Pike conger) – Nagasaki
Many rivers flow into the Shiranui Sea of Amakusa where pike eel, growing in a location with ample food thanks to the freshwater, are called golden pike eel and have excellent marbling. Fished by long-line, pike eel here is known for quality far-exceeding the rest of the nation.
天草の不知火海はそそぐ川が多く、淡水の影響により餌が豊富な場所で育ったハモは黄金ハモと呼ばれ、脂ののりが最高です。はえ縄漁で獲られたこのハモは全国で抜き出た品質が知られています。
SAZAE – Turbo cornutus
Sazae – Turbo cornutus – Kyushu
Although turban shells have horns, those caught in the calm-waters of the inland sea have smaller one or have none at all, while those from the open seas have larger horns.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, research is being conducted on mass-producing farm-raised spat in order to increase resources. Although shell-grilling is the most common way of enjoying turban shells, they can also be enjoyed as sashimi or marinated in vinegar.
サザエの殻にはつのがありますが、波静かな内海のものはつのが小さかったり、なかったりしており、外海のものはつのが多くなります。
資源を増やすため、福岡県では人工稚貝の量産研究を続けています。サザエといえば壷焼きが有名ですが、刺身・酢のものなどでも賞味します。
MAGOCHI – Flathead
Magochi – Flat head – Kyushu
This is a high-quality fish that is typically available in the summer months. Magochi is sliced thinly as “tessanami” sashimi and is esteemed for having a fine flavor rivals blowfish (fugu). Magochi is perfect for tempura and hotpot.
夏を代表する高級魚生ゴチは薄造りの刺身は別名「テッサナミ」と呼ばれ、河豚（ふぐ）に匹敵する美味しさであると評価されています。天ぷら、ちり鍋も絶品です。
