Month: March 2017

Notes for visitors to the observation area at the Tsukiji wholesale fish market? (2017-2018)

We really don’t understand but there is a regulation, that taking photos is prohibited at a seafood wholesale market. And its visiting hours have recently changed from 10am（11am） started from 15 June, 2018.

Even though cameras are forbidden as a rule, if you ask intermediate wholesalers for permission, they will gladly let you take pictures. It doesn’t seem quite right to me to have such a rule, as if it were an art museum.

We would like to thank all the intermediate wholesalers who willingly accepted me for shootings at their shops. We are praying you will carry on more thriving business.

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: May 23, 2018

Relax and Enjoy under Cherry Blossoms off the Beaten Path！

More and more visitors from overseas are making a point of timing trips to Tokyo during the cherry blossom season. Guidebook in their hands, they head to Meguro River, Ueno Park, Sumida River, Chidorigafuchi Park, or another popular spot. It goes without saying that the blossoms are beautiful in all of these locations.

However, to be frank, there are so many people sometimes it’s hard to tell if you’re there to see blossoms or to see crowds. If you’re visiting Japan and you’d like to really experience cherry blossoms, we recommend Shakujii River.

Around 1000 trees bloom on both sides of the river and there are very few people, making it perfect for enjoying cherry blossoms on a stroll. There are actually more cherry blossoms here than on Meguro River or at Ueno Park.

After enjoying the scenery, stop by Makitazushi, established in 1972. Entering this flagship shop of Nakaitabashi is like stepping back in time to the Showa era (1926-1989). Make sure to splurge and order the special sushi selection for JPY 3024.

Location : A few minutes walk from Nakaitabashi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line

Cherry Blossom Season : April 3-April 9

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: March 28, 2017

Seaweed roll (Makimono)

You don’t want to find yourself in a Sushi restaurant not knowing enough about the fish on offer. Here we will introduce all the different types of Edo-style Sushi (Edomaesushi) Ingredients. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Norimaki－Seaweed roll>

Anakyu maki－Gizzard shad and Cucumber roll

Himokyu maki－Mantle of ark shell and Cucumber roll

kanpyo maki－Sweet-simmered kanpyo (dried gourd strip) roll

Kappa maki－Cucumber roll

Kohada maki－Gizzard shad roll

Namida maki－Vinegared rice and thin strips of Wasabi rolled in seaweed

Negitoro maki－Green onion and toro roll

Shinko maki－Pickled radish and shiso plant roll

Takuwan maki－Pickled radish roll

Tekka maki－Norimaki sushi roll with red tuna and grated wasabi at the core

Torotaku maki－Toro and Pickled radish roll

Umeshiso maki－Pickled ume and shiso plant roll

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: October 15, 2020

Sushi Ingredients : Others

There are only high rank toppings such as rich tasting sea urchin (Uni), salmon roe (Ikura) and herring roe (Kazunoko). All different from other sushi toppings when it comes to a texture and flavor. A lot of them have become widespread ever since the technique of gunkan style sushi was established after the war. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Others>

Akauni－Red sea urchin

Anago－Japanese conger

Bafununi－Short-spined sea uruchin (Green sea urchin)

Ezobafununi－Short-spined sea urchin

Hamo－Daggertooth pike conger

Hoya－Sea squirt

Ikura－Salmon roe

Kazunoko－Herring roe

Kitamurasakiuni－Northern sea urchin

Komochikonbu－Herring spawn on kelp

Murasakiuni－Purple sea urchin

Namako－Sea cucumber

Noresore－Young Japanese conger

Shirako－Globefish testis

Shirohige－White spin sea urchin

Sirauo－Icefish

Tamago－Egg omelet

Tarako－Cod roe

Tobiko－flying fish roe

Unagi－Japanese eel

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: March 27, 2018

Prawn (Ebi) and Crab (kani)

Crustaceans like shrimp and crab are sushi toppings overflowing with their distinctive sweetness. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Ebi/Kani－Prawn/Crab>

Aka ebi－Argentine Red Shrimp

Ama ebi－Deepwater prawn (Deepwater shrimp, Pink prawn)

Black tiger (Ushi ebi)－Black tiger

Botan ebi－Botan shrimp (Pink prawn, Pink shrimp)

Gasa ebi－Argis lar

Ise ebi－Japanese spiny lobster

Kegani－Horsehair crab (Korean crab, Kegani crab)

Kuruma ebi－Kuruma prawn

Sakura ebi－Sakura shrimp

Shako－Squilla (Mantis shrimp, Edible mantis shrimp)

Shima ebi－Morotoge shrimp

Shiro ebi (Shira ebi)－Japanese glass shrimp

Tarabagani－King crab (Alaska king crab, Red king crab)

Zuwaigani－Snow crab (Queen crab, Zuwai-crab)

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: December 2, 2016

Shell (Kai)

Shellfish has been a traditional sushi topping started off with the origin of Edomae sushi. Its distinctive texture is fascinating, but the thing is, all kinds are expensive. As a sushi topping, it is placed between rich and light in flavor, and functions as a palate refresher. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Kai－Shell>

Akagai－Ark shell

Aoyagi (Bakagai)－Rediated trough-shell (Surf-clam)

Awabi (Kuroawabi)－Japanese abalone

Baigai－Japanese ivory-shell

Ezoawabi－Ezo-abalone

Hokkigai－Hen-clam

Hotate－Common scallop (Giant ezo-scallop, Frill, Fan-shell)

Ishigakigai－Bering Sea cockle

Iwagaki－Rock-oyster

Kaki (Magaki)－Oyster

Kobashira－The adductor of bakagai shellfish (Rediated trough-shell)

Madakaawabi－Giant abalone

Megaiawabi－Disk abalone

Mirugai (Honmirugai)－Otter-shell (Keen’s gaper)

Namigai (shiromiru)－Japanese geoduck

Nihama－Common orient clam (Japanese hard clam, White clam)

Sazae－Spiny top-shell

Shirogai (Manjugai, Saragai)－Northern great tellin

Tairagi (Tairagai)－Pen-shell (Fan-shell)

Tokobushi－Tokobushi abalone

Torigai－Egg-cockle (Heart-shell)

Tubugai (Matsubu)－Ezo-neptune (Whelk, Winckle)

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: December 2, 2016

Squid (Ika) and Octopus (Tako)

The Japanese love this strong umami coming out of its creepy features. Squid has a characteristic sweetness. Octopus has a dense texture and unique taste. These are sushi toppings that show their presence in your mouth. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Ika/Tako－Squid/ Octopus>

Aori ika－Bigfin reef squid

Hotaru ika－Firefly squid

Iidako－Ocellated octopus

Kaminari ika (Mongou ika)－Ocellated cuttlefish

Kensaki ika (Shiroika)－Swordtip squid

Mizudako－North-pacific giant octpus

Shin ika－Baby cuttlefish

Sumi ika (Kouika)－Cuttlefish

Surume ika－Japanese common squid

Tako (Madako)－Octopus

Yari ika－Spear squid

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: December 2, 2016

Silver-skinned fish (Hikarimono)

The silver sparkling skin and mouth-filling umami that you almost feel salty scent from the sea. Mostly served vinegared, Gizzard shad (Kohada) is the first on the list, Kasugo and Saba. Taking a lot of time and effort, hikarimono is the sushi topping that also shows professionalism of a sushi chef. Th ere are many people finding it hard to eat but it is actually healthy and rich in nutritive value. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Hikarimono － Silver-skinned fish>

Aji (Maaji) － Japanese horse-mackerel

Ayu － Ayu

Ebodai－ Japanese butterfish

Gomasaba－ Spotted mackerel

Hamo －Daggertooth pike conger

Hatahata － Japanese sandfish

Iwashi － Sardine

Kasugo－ Young Crimson sea bream

Kisu － Japanese whiting

Kohada － Gizzard shad

Mamakari － Big-eye sardine

Saba － Pacific mackerel

Sanma － Pacific saury

Sayori － Halfbeak

Shinko － Baby Gizzard shad

Tachiuo－Largehead hairtail (Cutlassfish, Scabbardfish)

Tobiuo － Japanese flyingfish

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: October 10, 2020

 

White flesh fish (Shiromi)

The first item recommended to taste is white-flesh fish. Because of its subtle flavor, it doesn’t influence the following topping. Serving it for the very first piece of sushi is a standard move. However, absolute umami in the lightness can be taken as the details Japanese love and no other sushi toppings can offer. By the way, salmon is categorized as white-flesh fish. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Shiromi－White flesh fish>

Ainame－Green ling

Amadai－Horsehead tilefish

Ara－Rock-cod

Budai－Japanese parrotfish

Buri－Japanese amberjack

Ebotai (Ibodai)－Butterfish

Engawa－Thin muscle of the dorsal fin of Japanese flounder, Marbled sole, etc.

Fugu (Torafugu)－Globefish (Blowfish, Puffer )

Hakkaku－Sailfin poacher

Hiramasa－Amberjack

Hirame－Japanese flounder (Olive flounder)

Hoshigarei－Spotted halibut

Houbou－Bluefin searobin

Inada－Japanese amberjack (30〜40cm)

Isaki－Striped pigfish

Ishidai－Barred knifejaw

Ishigarei－Stone flounder

Kamasu (Akakamasu)－Barracuda

Kanpachi－Greater amberjack

Kasago－Marbled rockfish

Kasugo (Chidai, Kidai)－Baby Red sea-bream (Crimson sea-bream, Eellowback sea-bream)

Kawahagi－Filefish

Kijihata (Akou)－Redspotted Grouper

Kinki (Kichiji)－Thornhead

Kinmedai－Splendid alfonsino

Kochi (Magochi)－Bartail flathead

Koshodai－Crescent sweetlips

Kue－Longtooth grouper

Kurodai (Chinu)－Blackhead seabream

Kurosoi－Black rockfish

Mahata (Hata)－Grouper (Rock-cod, Seven band grouper)

Makogarei－Marbled sole

Matsukawagarei－Barfin flounder

Mebaru－Rockfish

Medai－Japanese butterfish

Meichidai－Nakedhead

Mejina－Greeenfish (Nibbler, Rudderfish)

Mutsu－Japanese bluefish

Nametagarei (Babagarei)－Slime flounder

Nodoguro (Akamutsu)－Blackthroat seaperch

Okoze (Oniokoze)－Devil stinger

Sake －Salmon

Sawara－Japanese spanish mackerel

Shima aji－Crevalle jack (Trevally)

Suzuki－Japanese seaperch

Tai (Madai)－Red sea-bream

Tara (Madara)－Pacific cod

Umazurahagi－Leatherfish

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: October 10, 2020

Red flesh fish (Akami)

There are a number of popular sushi toppings of akami including Tuna (Maguro), Bonito (Katsuo), Striped marlin (Makajiki) and such. Its fatty and rich taste gives you satisfaction like “This is the sushi”. *Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Akami－Red flesh fish>

Bashokajiki－Indo pacific sailfish

Binnaga maguro－Longfin white tuna

Katsuo－Bonito (Oceanic bonito, Striped tuna)

Kihada maguro－Yellowfin tuna

Kurokawa kajiki－Indo pacific Blue marlin

Maguro (Kuromaguro, Honmaguro, Shibi)－Bluefin tuna

Makajiki－Striped marlin

Mebachi maguro－Bigeye tuna

Mekajiki－Swordfish

Minami maguro (Indo maguro)－Southernbluefin tuna

Shirokawa kajiki－Black marlin

Suma－Wavyback skipjack, Eastern little tuna

We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: October 10, 2020