List of Silver-skinned fish (Hikarimono)

A photo of Hikarimono
Hikarimono is a name unique to the sushi industry, and as the name implies, it refers to fish with shiny surface skin.

Hikarimono (Silver-skinned fish) includes horse mackerel, mackerel, sardines, sillago, and gizzard shad, generally referred to as blue-backed fish. Hikarimono all have high-fat content. It is approximately 7% in gizzard shad and horse mackerel. It is about 16% in mackerel. The taste is heavy. Many of the fish in this category lose their freshness quickly, so the preparations differ greatly from restaurant to restaurant. They say that you can tell how well a restaurant is doing by which Hikarimono they serve. This may be why many restaurants make sure to work hard on their Hikarimono.

Tachiuo really does look like a sword from the outside, so it seems like it should be classified as Hikarimono, but it’s actually Shiromi. In the sushi restaurant sector, Hikarimono refers to sushi toppings for which Sujime is used in the preparations. Furthermore, there are chefs who classify Shima aji as Hikarimono when the silver skin is left on, and Shiromi when the skin is removed. There 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>

Aiburi-Blackbanded trevally (Seriolina nigrofasciata (Rüppell, 1829))

Aji (Maaji) - Japanese horse-mackerel

Akaaji-(Decapterus akaadsi Abe,1958)

Aogisu-Small-scale sillago (Sillago parvisquamis Gill, 1861)

Ayu - Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846))

Burimodoki-Pilot fish (Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758))

Chika- Smelt (Hypomesus japonicus (Brevoort, 1856))

Datsu-Pacific needlefish (Strongylura anastomella (Valenciennes, 1846))

Ebodai- Japanese butterfish

Etsu-Japanese grenadier anchovy (Coilia nasus Temminck & Schlegel, 1846)

Ginkagami-Moonfish (Mene maculata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801))

Gingameaji-Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus Quoy and Gaimard,1824)

Gomasaba- Spotted mackerel (Scomber australasicus Cuvier, 1832)

Hamadatsu-Flat needlefish (Ablennes hians (Valenciennes, 1846))

Hamo -Daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskål, 1775))

Hatahata - Japanese sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus (Steindachner, 1881))

Hira-Chinese herring, Slender Shad (Ilisha elongata (Anonymous,1830))

Hiiragi-Spotnape Ponyfish (Nuchequula nuchalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845))

Hoshigisu-Oriental sillago (Sillago aeolus Jordan and Evermann, 1902)

Hoshizayori-Black barred halfbeak (Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775))

Ikekatsuo-Doubledotted queenfish (Scomberoides lysan (Forsskål, 1775))

Indookiaji-Sixband brown jack (Uraspis uraspis (Günther, 1860))

Itohkiaji-Giliated threadfish (Alectis ciliaris (Bloch,1788))

Iwashi - Sardine (Sardinops melanostictus (Temminck et Schlegel,1846))

Kagishimanigisu-Smallmouth argentine (Argentina kagoshimae Jordan & Snyder, 1902)

Kaiwari - Whitefin trevally (Kaiwarinus equula (Temminck et Schlegel, 1844))

Kamasu (Akakamasu)-Barracuda (Sphyraena pinguis Günther, 1874)

Karafutoshishamo - Capellin, Lodde (Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776))

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

Kibinago - Banded blue-sprat (Spratelloides gracilis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846))

Kisu - Japanese whiting (Sillago japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)

Kobanaji-Smallspotted dart (Trachinotus baillonii (Lacepède,1802))

Kohada - Gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus(Temminck et Schlegel, 1846))

Kuroajimodoki-Black pomfret (Parastromateus niger (Bloch,1795))

KurohiraajiBlue trevally (Carangoides ferdau (Forsskål, 1775))

Kuroshibikamasu-Roudi escolar (Promethichthys prometheus (Cuvier, 1832))

Kusayamoro-Mackerel scad (Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier, 1833))

Kyuriuo - Arctic smelt (Osmerus dentex Steindachner & Kner, 1870)

Mamakari (Sappa) - Big-eye sardine (Sardinella zunasi (Bleeker, 1854))

Maruaji - Amberfish (Decapterus maruadsi (Temminck and Schlegel,1844))

Maruhiraaji-Coastal trevally (Carangoides coeruleopinnatus
(Rüppell, 1830))

Marukoban-Snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii (Lacepède,1802))

Meaji-Bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch, 1793))

Minami Australia sayori-Southern garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir (Valenciennes, 1847))

Minamiikekatsuo-Needlescaled queenfish (Scomberoides tol (Cuvier, 1832))

Moro-Cherootfish (Decapterus macrosoma Bleeker, 1851)

Motogisu-Northern whiting (Sillago sihama (Forsskål,1775))

Muroaji - Amberstripe scad (Decapterus muroadsi (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Nanyoukaiwari-Island trevally (Ferdauia orthogrammus (Jordan and Gilbert, 1882))

New Zealand maaji-Yellowtail horse mackerel (Trachurus novaezelandiae Richardson, 1843)

Nigisu - Deep-sea smelt (Glossanodon semifasciatus (Kishinouye, 1904))

Nishimaaji-Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758))

Nishin - Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii Valenciennes, 1847)

Oakamuro-Roughear scad (Decapterus tabl Berry, 1968)

Okiaji-White tongued crevalle (Uraspis helvola (Forster, 1801))

Okihiiragi-Offshore ponyfish (Equulites rivulatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845))

Okizayori-Hound needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus subsp. crocodilus)

Rouninaji-Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål, 1775))

Saba - Pacific mackerel

Sanma - Pacific saury

Sayori - Halfbeak

Seitakahiragi-Common ponyfish (Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål,1775))

Shinko - Baby Gizzard shad

Shirogisu-Japanese whiting (Sillago japonica Temminck & Schlegel, 1843)

Shishamo -Shishamo smelt (Spirinchus lanceolatus (Hikita, 1913))

Sprat- European sprat (Sprattus sprattus (Linnaeus, 1758))

Tachiuo-Largehead hairtail , Cutlassfish, Scabbardfish (Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758)

Taiseiyousaba-Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, 1758)

Taiwan kamasu- Obtuse barracuda (Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier,1829)

Tenjikuaji-Coachwhip trevally (Carangichthys oblongus (Cuvier, 1833))

Tenjikudatsu-Black-finned longtom (Tylosurus acus subsp. melanotus (Bleeker, 1850))

Tobiuo - Japanese flyingfish (Cypselurus agoo (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846))

Yamatokamasu-Japanese barracuda (Sphyraena japonica Bloch and Schneider,1801)

Yoroiaji-Longfin trevally (Atropus armatus (Forsskål 1775))

Wakasagi-Japanese smelt (Hypomesus nipponensis McAllister, 1963)

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Revision date: February 13, 2025


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List of Red flesh fish (Akami)

Akami generally refers to red-colored meat like beef and fish meat. The typical Akami fish are tuna and bonito. Its fatty and rich taste gives you satisfaction like “This is the sushi”. The meat gets its red color from the high hemoglobin and myoglobin content specific to migratory fish. At a sushi restaurant, when you order Akami, you will be served tuna. The word Akami exists for tuna.

*Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page.

<Akami-Red flesh fish>

Bashokajiki-Indo pacific sailfish,  (Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792))

Binnaga maguro-Albacore (Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788))

Gasutoro-Butterfly kingfish (Gasterochisma melampus Richardson,1845)

Hagatuo-Striped bonito (Sarda orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Hirasouda-Frigate tuna (Auxis thazard thazard (Lacepède, 1800))

Hosogatsuo (Arotsunasu)-Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallaii Serventy, 1948)

Iso maguro-Dogtooth tuna, Scaleless tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor (Rüppell, 1838))

Katsuo-Bonito (Oceanic bonito, Striped tuna)

Kihada maguro-Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788))

Kosinaga maguro- Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851))

Kurokawa kajiki (Kuro kajiki)-Indo pacific Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans Lacepède, 1802)

Maguro (Kuromaguro, Honmaguro, Shibi)-Bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel,1844))

Makajiki-Striped marlin (Kajikia audax (Philippi, 1887))

Marusouda-Frigate mackerel (Auxis rochei subsp. rochei)

Mebachi maguro-Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839))

Mejimaguro (Meji)-Young bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel,1844))

Mekajiki-Swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758)

Minami maguro (Indo maguro)-Southernbluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872))

Shirokawa kajiki (Shiro kajiki)-Black marlin (Istiompax indica (Cuvier, 1832))

Suma (Yaito-gatsuo)-Wavyback skipjack, Eastern little tuna (Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849))

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Revision date: August 6, 2025


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