Izumi Aji are nonmigratory yellow horse mackerel that grow up in coastal bays where it attains its golden color and round form.
This fish has moderate fat content and very high quality flesh with a delicious sweetness. “Ougon Aji” means Aji that “tastes like gold” in Japanese. They are caught by pole-and-line fishing, one-by-one. The caught fish is kept overnight in a live fish tank to maintain its quality and shipped to the market the next day.
The quality of this fish receives the best evaluation from top sushi restaurants in the Ginza area, Tokyo. Recently at the Tsukiji market, this fish was bought and sold at prices
more than 5000 yen/kg.
回遊をせずに北薩摩の内海で育った瀬付きの黄アジは丸みを帯びた形となり、色は黄色に光り輝いています。脂のノリと身の締りに絶妙のバランスを持つ肉質はまさに黄金アジの名にふさわしい絶品です。