Common name: Sharpbeak terapon, Fourstriped grunter, Sharpnose taigerfish

Japanese name: Shimaisaki (縞伊佐幾、縞伊佐木、縞鶏魚)

Taiwan common name: 尖突吻鯻、斑吾、雞仔魚、尖突雞魚、陣銅仔

Chinese common name: 尖突吻鯻

Korean common name: 줄벤자리

Scientific name: Rhynchopelates oxyrhynchus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1842)

Nigiri sushi detail: Sharpbeak terapon (Shimaisaki) Nigiri sushi

Characteristics:

Sharpbeak terapon (Shimaisaki) is distributed in central Honshu and southwards, Taiwan, China and the Philippines. It swims in groups in inner bays and estuaries, and sometimes in freshwater. Body length is 20~30 cm. Its body color is blue-gray and its abdomen is silvery-white. The body side is striped with a black longitudinal band. The season is from May to August.

It is named for its apparent resemblance to the high-end Chicken grunt (Isaki). However, it is a different species from Isaki and not a related species. Generally, Shimaisaki is treated as a small fish and is not often seen in supermarkets. It is a white fish with no peculiarities, so the larger ones are used as sashimi, while the smaller ones are grilled or boiled in salted water.

Like Horsehead (Akaamadai), Shimaisaki is a rare fish whose scales are very tasty, so it is good to cook it with the scales on.

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