Common name: Luna lionfish, Japanese lionfish, Dragon’s beard fish, Butterfly fish, Lion fish

Japanese name: Minokasago (蓑笠子)

Taiwan common name: 環紋簑鮋、龍鬚簑鮋、獅子魚、長獅、魔鬼、國公、石狗敢、虎魚、雞公、紅虎、火烘、石頭魚

Chinese common name: 环纹蓑鮋

Korean common name: 쏠배감펭

Scientific name: Pterois lunulata Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

Nigiri sushi detail: Luna lionfish (Minokasago) Nigiri sushi

Feature:

Luna lionfish (Minokasago) are distributed south of southern Hokkaido and in the Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits shallow coastal waters to rocky reef areas. The body length is about 30 cm. Its body resembles that of a Marbled rockfish (Kasago), but its dorsal and pectoral fins are very long. Its body color is light red with black horizontal stripes across its body. The season is from late spring to fall.

Minokasago is one of the so-called unused fish and is very inexpensive. It is said that it is generally treated as a small fish that cannot even be found in fish shops. The pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins are spines that contain a neurotoxin, so be careful not to get stung. Its venom is made of protein and is sensitive to heat, so it is said that soaking the affected area in 40-45 degrees Celsius water will relieve the pain. Because it is a beautiful fish, it is expensive as an ornamental fish.

Its flesh is a bit watery, so when making sushi, it may be better to grill the skin to bring out the umami, or to Kobujime.

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