Fukuoka Market in March

English
Japanese

MADAI – RED SEA BREAM

  • Madai - Sea Bream
  • Madai – Wild Red seabream
  • Madai - Japanese sea bream

This is a fish that has been favored by Japanese from long ago. It can be enjoyed by preparing it as shimokawa zukuri or marbling the skin by torching or pouring hot water so that the flavor of the fat beneath the skin can be showcased for sushi or sashimi.
Although farm raised varieties have become popular lately, it is said that wild red sea bream is of another world.
日本人に昔から愛されてきた魚です。お刺身や寿司には皮下の脂の美味しいさを活かすために霜皮造りにしたり、皮目を炙るなどします。最近は養殖物も普及しましたが、天然真鯛の美味しさは別格のようです。


SAYORI – HALFBEAK

  • Sayori - Halfbeak

Known as the “beautiful fish that tells of the arrival of Spring,” Halfbeak are a high-quality white fish that are in their peak season from late-Fall through Spring.
They can also be enjoyed in early Fall. Perfect for preparing in thin slices that showcase the translucent meat, of course, you can enjoy it as a sushi topping in the silver-skin variety.
「春を告げる美しい魚」といわれ、秋冬から春にかけて旬になる白身の高級魚ですが、この時期秋にも美味しく召し上がれます。細造りや糸造りが美しい半透明の身に似合います。もちろん光り物寿司種としてもお使いください。


SAKURAMASU – CHERRY SALMON

  • SAKURAMASU – Cherry salmon
  • SAKURAMASU – Cherry salmon
  • SAKURAMASU – Cherry salmon

Cherry salmon announces the arrival of spring. After swimming the ocean, the cherry salmon return to the rivers where they were born. They are thought to have gotten their name because their return coincides with the cherry blossom season and the meat being cherry in color.
Soft in texture with strong umami and sweetness, if enjoying them raw, please do so after freezing them once.
春を告げる魚サクラマス。海に下ったサクラマスは 1 年後、自らが産 まれた川に戻ってきます。その時期が桜の咲く頃であることや、その身 の色が桜色であることから「桜鱒」と呼ばれるようになったと言われて います。
身質は柔らかく、強い旨味と甘みがあります。生食の際には 一度凍らせてからお使いください。


AKAMUTSU – Blackthroat

  • AKAMUTSU - Black throat
  • AKAMUTSU – Black throat
  • AKAMUTSU – Black throat

“Benihitomi” is brand name of akamutsu that fish caught in Tsushima and Iki Island area sea by “Jigokunawa” fishing style. “Benihitomi” is called “King of Akamutsu”.
対馬、壱岐の地獄縄という漁法でとれたアカムツを紅瞳と呼びます。最高の鮮度と脂ののりでアカムツの王様です。


KURODAI – Black bream

  • Kurodai - Black porgy
  • Kurodai - Black porgy

In Fukuoka, Kurodai is called “Meita” or “Chinu”, depending on its size. When it is over 11 inches, they call it “Chinu”.
During its best season, the taste of Kurodai is said to be as good as Madai, if not better.
福岡ではクロダイのことをその大きさに応じてメイタあるいはチヌと呼びます。大体30cmを超えるとチヌとよびます。旬を迎えるクロダイは、マダイにも劣らない味と言う方もいます。


AMADAI – Japanese Tilefish

  • AMADAI – Japanese tilefish
  • Amadai - Japanese tilefish
  • Amadai - Japanese tilefish

In the season from fall to early spring, amadai are particularly rich in fat and delicious sweetness.
水分が多く柔らかい白身で、ほどよく繊維質であるが崩れやすいので扱いには注意が必要です。水分を抜いて料理するのが基本で、皮目は焼くと甘い香りがし、独特の風味があります。


MEDAI – Japanese butterfish

  • MEDAI - Japanese butterfish

The best season for mendai is fall to winter. This fish is easy to cook because the scales are very small and bones are easily cut.
This is a good cost performance fish. The white flesh has a very good umami taste but the price is reasonable compared to other fish.
The soft texture is good for various cooking styles. Simmered and hot-pot style are especially suitable for the cold winter season.
秋から冬が旬の魚です。鱗が小さくて取りやすく、骨が軟らかいので調理が比較的容易です。価格の割に癖も少なく旨味も強い魚です。熱を通しても硬く締まらない身質は煮付けや鍋など、様々な調理法に合います。


MEJINA – Largescale blackfish

  • MEJINA – Largescale blackfish

If you are looking to eat the best MEJINA, now is the season! MEJINA in the winter has a very fresh taste with delicious fat. The firm texture of this fish is said to be even better than that of MADAI (sea bream). We recommend serving our MEJINA with the skin, using the technique of “matsukawa zukuri”.
冬のメジナは夏場に比べて臭みもなく脂が程よくり食べごろになります。コリコリとした身の食感は真鯛よりもかなり上ともいわれ、脂ののった皮目を残したままマツカワ造りにするのがお勧めです。


KASAGO – MARBLED ROCKFISH

  • KASAGO - Marbled rockfish
  • KASAGO - Marbled rockfish
  • KASAGO - Marbled rockfish

Caught throughout the year and delicious in all seasons, seasonal language designates
this as a Spring fish. Called arakabu in Fukuoka, people especially like to prepare it as a sweet-boil. Despite the extremely delicately flavored meat being prone to losing its freshness, we will deliver it to you directly from the Fukuoka Market while it is still fresh.
季語で言えば春の魚ですが、1年を通して水揚げがあり季節を問わず美味しい魚です。福岡ではアラカブと呼ばれ煮つけなどにするなど地元で大変親しまれている魚です。非常に上品な味わいの白身は一方で鮮度が落ちやすいのですが、産地の福岡市場から新鮮なままお届けします。


SUZUKI – JAPANESE SEABASS

  • SUZUKI - Japanese Sea perch
  • Suzuki - Japanese sea perch
  • SUZUKI – Japanese Seabass

Normally, Japanese sea perch is considered a fish of early Summer.
However, this year the catches started arriving much sooner than in the years passed. Often prepared as arai or a
broil, it is also commonly used in French cuisine. The un-fishy flavor is sure to be a pleaser.
通常ですと初夏の魚といったイメージですが、今年は例年に比べかなり早い時期から入荷が始まっています。洗いや、焼き物によく使われ、日本食以外にフレンチでも良くつかわれる素材です。クセのない味わいは納得の美味しさです。


HOUBOU – SEA ROBIN

  • HOUBOU - Sea Robin
  • HOUBOU - Sea Robin

This fish is caught year-round and maintains its flavor throughout. Especially the months between November and February are most delicious due to the additional marbling.
Despite being a white fish you the marbling masks the otherwise bland flavor making this fish perfect for sweet-boils, grilling, and even raw.
通年獲れる魚で年間通して美味しい魚です。中でもこの時期 11月から 2 月が脂がのって最も美味しい旬になります。白身ですが淡白さをそれほど感じさせないほどに旨みがあり、煮付け、焼き魚、生でも美味しい魚です。


ITOYORI – THREADFIN BREAM

  • ITOYORI – Threadfin bream
  • ITOYORI – Threadfin-bream

The brilliant pink meat not only is delicious but also adds a burst of color to the cuisine, especially delicious when marbled by flash boiling with hot water. The perfect amount of fibrous texture of this white fish lends to a perfect bite. Go light if sweet-boiling or go for preparation methods such as soups that accentuate the delicate flavor. Those caught in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture are the best during this season.
華やかなピンク色の刺身は美味しさだけではなく料理に彩りも添え、霜皮造りの刺身は絶品です。適度に繊維質で舌触りが良い白身です。煮るなら薄味、または椀種など繊細な味を生かす料理法が合います。この時期は山口県の萩産がおすすめです。


TACHIUO – Beltfish

  • TACHIUO - Beltfish

Although the spawning season for beltfish is between June and October and it is said that they are
most tasty during that time, they grow even bigger from Fall through Winter and gain marbling, lending to even more flavor.
大き目き目のサイズで質のいいのものが市場に入ってきています。
是非お試しください。


UMAZURAHAGI–Black scrapper

  • UMAZURAHAGI - Black scraper

The meat’s flavor is considered best from the end of summer to fall. However, there is another opinion that winter is the best season because the liver becomes larger and is very tasty from late autumn to spring.
身が美味しいのは夏の終わりから秋にかけてですが、晩秋から春にかけては肝が大きくなるため、この寒い時期を旬とする考え方もあります。刺し身で食べるなら身が回復し、適度に肝も膨らんだ秋、鍋など加熱調理するなら寒いこれからの時期が最もがおすすめです。


SAWARA – SPANISH MACKEREL

  • Sawara - Spanish mackerel

As described in the characters, Spanish mackerel is a Spring fish. In western Japan, it is said that the approaching Spring is the best season to enjoy it.
Fresh Spanish mackerel can be widely enjoyed as sashimi, saikyozuke (pickling in Kyoto-style miso) or reianyaki grill.
鰆は字のごとく春の魚、西日本ではこれからの春がサワラの旬といわれています。新鮮なものは刺身に、西京漬けや幽庵焼きなど幅広くお使いいただけます。


KANPACHI – AMBERJACK

  • KANPACHI - Amberjack

The big-three of buri family are yellowtail, yellowtail amberjack, and amberjack. Among them, the
amberjack may have the least marbling but still possesses a fine flavor and tight meat.
Wild caught amberjacks are considered to be high-class fish as they are less-caught than yellowtail or yellowtail amberjacks. Enjoy this delicacy as sushi, sashimi, shabushabu, and even teriyaki.
カンパチはブリやヒラマサに比べ最も脂が少ない分、身が引き締まった品の良い美味しさがあります。天然ものはブリやヒラマサより漁獲量が少ないということもあり、市場では高級魚として扱われます。寿司、刺身その他しゃぶしゃぶや照り焼きにもお使いください。


YAZU/INADA – YOUNG YELLOWTAIL

  • YAZU/INADA - Young Yellowtail
  • Inada/Yazu - Young yellowtail
  • YAZU/INADA - Young Yellowtail

A young yellowtail, the names given to this fish vary by region. It is light and fresh in flavor compared to fatty yellowtail and is characterized by its firm meat.
More reasonable in cost, it can be enjoyed as sashimi, teriyaki or as fritters.
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。


HIRAMASA – YELLOWTAIL AMBERJACK

  • HIRAMASA
  • HIRAMASA – Yellowtail Amberjack

Not as fatty as yellowtail but more so than amberjacks with added umami, you can enjoy the crunchy texture of this fish when fresh.
If you let it sit for a day, it will develop a round flavor.
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。


KONOSHIRO – GIZZARD SHAD

  • Konoshiro - Gizzard shad

Gizzard shads are considered to be in their peak season between late Fall and Winter. It is a crucial topping for sushi that holds the success of the restaurant in its preparation.
There is a saying In Edo-styled sushi that states, “sushi stops at Kohada (shad), as the amount of salt and vinegar used showcases the skills of the chefs.
福岡では晩秋から冬が旬といわれます。江戸前鮨では「鮨は小鰭(コハダ)に止めをさす」と言われコハダの塩加減、酢締めの加減は鮨職人の腕の見せ所で、その鮨屋の看板にかかわるとされされるほど重要な寿司ネタです。


HONGATSUO – BONITO

  • Katsuo - Bonito

Catches have arrived earlier than previous years and we are starting to see those from Wakayama and Tsushima in the Fukushima market. The current catch is characteristic for having little marbling in the red meat with a more refreshing taste. Searing them and preparing them as tataki draws out the fresh flavor even more. Why not give it a try?
今年は例年に比べて初ガツオの入荷が早く、和歌山や対馬のものが福岡市場に並び始めています。今の時期は赤身が多く脂が控えめで、サッパリとした味わいが特徴です。炙ってタタキにすると、爽やかな風味がいっそう引き立ちます。是非お試しください。


HAGATSUO – STRIPED BONITO

  • Hagatsuo - Bonito

Skipjack is spectacular when enjoyed as tataki as searing the skin draws out a fragrant aroma.
The red meat of striped bonito, in the middle between those of bonito and Spanish mackerel, doesn’t have the iron scent unique to bonito and is especially flavorful with umami.
Maximizing the proximity to the breeding waters, the Fukushima market will ship directly to the U.S., preserving
the fresh quality.
皮目を焼いたときの香りと風味が良く、「たたき」にすると絶品です。カツオとサワラの中間程度の赤身はカツオ特有の鉄臭さが無く、尚且つ旨みもあり極わめて美味です。福岡市場は産地に近い強みを活かして、最高に新鮮な状態でアメリカに直接発送します。


SUMA – BLACK SKIPJACK

  • SUMA - Black Skipjack

Black Skipjacks are enjoyed mainly in Western Japan as sashimi, salt-grill, sweet-boils and fritters. Though it is
delicious all-year long, they are especially delectable during their peak season from Fall through Spring. You will feel the slight acidity and marbling that melts in your mouth when enjoying it as sashimi.
西日本を中心に、刺身や塩焼き、煮つけ、唐揚げなどにして賞味されています。通年美味しい魚ですが、旬である秋から春はさらに味がよくなります。 お刺身にするとトロッとした微かな酸味と旨味が舌の上に感じられます


INA SABA – MACKEREL (WILD)

  • INA Saba - INA brand mackerel

Only those mackerel, among those native to the nutritious Tsushima waters, who meet rigorous criteria of those caught in the Ina fishing port are called Ina Saba (mackerel). Standards include that they are caught on a single line,
have no scratches on their bodies, cooled in ice and water for more than 6 hours immediately after catching, and selected by size so that they make a box weighing around 5kg.
餌が豊富な対馬近海で育ったサバの中から、伊奈漁港に上がったもののうち厳格な基準を満たした鯖のみが伊奈サバとして出荷されます。一本釣り、魚体に傷が無い、水揚げした直後水氷で 6 時間以上冷やし込みされたもの、5 キロ前後でひと箱になるようにサイズ選別された物といった点が基準になります。


KAWAHAGI – FILEFISH

  • KAWAHAGI - Filefish

Although it is a delicious fish all year round, the flavor is extraordinary between Fall and Winter when the marbled white meat melds beautifully with the liver. It is also delicious to use liver-soy sauce on the sashimi by boiling and melting the liver into the soy sauce.
通年を通して美味しい魚ですが、春が近づく中まだ寒さの残るこの時期、白身の旨味ののった身に肝のり合わせが最高の味わいになります。
肝をゆでてしょうゆに溶かし込んだ肝醤油を刺身に使うのも絶品です。


UMAZURAHAGI – BLACK SCRAPER

  • UMAZURAHAGI - Black scraper

Fall would be the best if enjoying this fish because the meat has recovered, and the liver has fattened.
The sizes are starting to increase now, too.
身が美味しいのは夏の終わりから秋にかけてですが、晩秋から春にかけては肝が大きくなるため、この時期も美味し
い季節です。


USUBAHAGI – UNICORN LEATHERJACKET

  • USUBAHAGI - Leatherjacket

These are large fish that grow to 50-50cm in size. They are reasonably priced for their size with a white meat that pairs well with fat, lending it to be used in Western cuisine as well. They are a useful fish for Japanese pubs and so on due to their large size yet affordable price compared to filefish and scraper.
大きさが50~60cmほどにもなる大型のカワハギです。大きさのワリに比較的価格も安く手頃な魚です。淡白な白身は油との相性も良く、洋食素材としても利用できます。カワハギやウマズラに比べ価格が安く大きい分、居酒屋さんなど
では使い勝手が良いい魚です。


HOTARU-IKA – FIREFLY SQUID

It has been enjoyed as a seasonal food to eat during spring in Toyama and Hyogo Prefectures. Please enjoy as “okizuke” which is a type of seasoned and pickled dish, marinated with vinegared miso, or as tempura.
「春の風物詩」として日本海側の富山県や兵庫県で賞味されてきました。古くから富山では沖漬け、酢味噌和え、天ぷら、などにお使いください。


AORI-IKA – BIGFIN REEF SQUID

  • AORI-IKA - Bigfin reef squid

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」とも呼ばれ、イカ類の刺身の中では最上のものとされます。肉質は柔らかくも適度な弾力に富みんで極上の甘みがあり、江 戸前の寿司や天ぷらの寿司種として欠かすことのできないものです。


YARI-IKA – SPEAR SQUID

  • YARI-IKA - Spear squid

Spear squid are caught in masses between the Winter and Spring when they come towards the shore for spawning. There is a saying that says, “swordtip squid in Summer, sear squid in the winter.” The most popular are the large sear squid that are caught between Winter and Spring that are filled with young.
繁殖のため接岸してくる冬から春にかけて多く漁獲されます。ヤリイカの旬は冬から春にかけてとなり、「夏のケンサキイカ、冬のヤリイカ」と言われています。この冬から春に獲れる子持ちのヤリイカが大きく最も人気があります。


KO-IKA – CUTTLEFISH

  • KO-IKA / SUMI-IKA - Cuttlefish

Known as sumiika in the Kanto area, this is an ingredient that is indispensable in Edo-style sushi or tempura. Because it is so popular as a sushi topping and sushi restaurants seeking them at once, it is a superior item that can reach up to 20,000 yen per kilo when in season.
関東ではスミイカの名前で呼ばれ、江戸前の寿司や天ぷらに欠かせない食材です。晩秋から初春にかけて旬を迎えます。たおやかな歯触りとねっとりとした甘みと旨みが魅力です。刺身はもちろん、天ぷらにしても非常に美味です。