Common name: Banded pigfish, Blackspot pigfish

Japanese name: Kitsunedai (狐鯛)

Chinese common name: 尖头普提鱼

Korean common name: 사랑놀래기

Scientific name: Bodianus oxycephalus (Bleeker,1862)

Nigiri sushi detail: Blackspot pigfish (Kitsunedai) Nigiri sushi

Feature:

Blackspot pigfish (Kitsunedai) are distributed in the central and western Pacific Ocean, south of Sagami Bay. It inhabits deep reefs at depths of 30 to 60 meters. The body is rather long and flattened, and the mouth is protruding. The body is red and the abdomen is pale, with large black spots on the dorsal fin. Its body length is 20~40 cm. The season is from spring to summer.

It is white with red flesh, and dark red meat (Chiai) is light in color, making it beautiful to look at. It has a sweet taste and little acidity, so fresh ones are recommended to be eaten as sashimi. However, there are almost no sushi restaurants that serve Nigiri sushi. Kitsunedai does not shrink much even when heated, so it can be fried, simmered, or grilled with salt. Also, ara (the leftover parts of a fish after it has been filleted) can be used to make delicious soup stock.