List of 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.

Shiromi refers to white-colored fish meat. The fat content in Shiromi is generally low at about 1.2% in flounder and 4.7% in sea bream. Almost all white fish have a subtle and elegant taste. Furthermore, the rigor mortis takes over slowly and lasts for a long time, so it maintains the crunchy texture longer. Unlike Akami, the Shiromi fish don’t really migrate. You can call yourself a sushi expert if you’re able to recognize which fish it is just by looking at the cut.

Contrary to appearance, Salmon is classified as Shiromi. The salmon is originally grey, and the pink color comes from the pigments of the shrimp and crab on which it preys. We also think that Buri and Shima aji meat looks more beige than white. To be more specific, these are classified as Iromono, but there are relatively few chefs who actually know this term so we will refer to them as Shiromi. Once you’re able to speak knowledgeably on Shiromi, you’ll be a true Sushi Foodie.

What you should keep in mind is that most Shiromi fish used at sushi restaurants is sold as live fish. The broker implements Ikejime according to the instructions of the purchasing shop and then it is delivered. Basically, the chef calculates backward from the time he will make the sushi, aiming to maximize the umami. Furthermore, the price is at least 50% higher, considering the cost to transport from the fishing port to Toyosu Market, etc. This is one of the reasons Shiromi is so expensive at sushi restaurants.

Of course, only white fish that can be used for nigiri sushi is listed. Many varieties of Fugu exist, but with the exception of Torafugu (Japanese puffer fish), they are mainly used in conveyor belt sushi.

*Japanese terms will be italicized on sushi ingredients page. Parentheses after the English name indicate the scientific name.

<Shiromi－White flesh fish>

Aburabouzu－Skilfish

Aburagarei－Kamchatka flounder, Arrow-toothed halibut

Ainame－Green ling (Hexagrammos otakii Jordan & Starks, 1895)

Akahata－Blacktip grouper

Akaisaki－Schlegel red bass

Akakasago－Red deepwater scorpionfish

Akamanbo (Mandai)－Sunfish (Lampris megalopsis Underkoffler, Luers, Hyde and Craig, 2018)

Akamebaru－Rockfish (Sebastes inermis Cuvier,1829)

Akamefugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Akamekasago－Yellowbarred red rockfish

Akauo (Arasukamenuke)－Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus (Gilbert, 1890))

Akayagara－Redcornetfish (Fistularia petimba Lacepède, 1803)

Akodai－Matsubara’s red rockfish

Aodai－Blue fusilier

Aoyagara－Bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838)

Amadai－Horsehead tilefish

Amemasu－White spotted Char (Salvelinus leucomaenis (Pallas, 1814))

Amerikanamazu－Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818))

Ara－Rock-cod

Arotsunasu－Slender tuna (Allothunnus fallaii Serventy, 1948)

Ayamekasago－Yellowbarred red rockfish (Sebastiscus albofasciatus (Lacepède,1802))

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

Azukihata－Slender grouper

Bebizake－Red salmon

Biwamasu－Biwa trout

Bora－Flathead gray mullet

Budai－Japanese parrotfish (Calotomus japonicus (Valenciennes, 1840))

Burakkubasu (Ookuchibasu)－Black bass (Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède,1802))

Buri－Japanese amberjack

Chairomaruhata－Orange spotted grouper

Comonfugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Ebotai (Ibodai)－Butterfish, Pacific rudderfish, Melon seed (Psenopsis anomala (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Ebisudai－Japanese soldierfish

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

Ezo Iwana－White-spotted Char (Salvelinus leucomaenis (Pallas, 1814))

Fedai －Red snapper, Starsnapper

Fugu (Torafugu)－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Ginhirasu－Silver warehou (Seriolella punctata (Forster, 1801))

Ginmutus (Mazeranainame)－Mero, Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides Smith)

Ginmutus (Raigyodamashi)－Mero, Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman)

Ginzake－Silver salmon

Gogi－(Salvelinus leucomaenis imbrius (Jordan and McGregor,1925))

Gomafugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Hachibiki－Japanese rubyfish (Erythrocles schlegelii (Richardson, 1846))

Hakkaku (Tokubire)－Sailfin poacher (Podothecus sachi (Jordan and Snyder, 1901))

Hakofugu－Black-spotted boxfish

Hamadai (Onaga)－Deepwater longtail red snapper

Hamafuefukidai (Taman)－Spangled emperor

Harisenbon－Longspined porcupinefish

Hedai－Goldlined seabream

Higanfugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Himedai－Lavender jobfish

Hiramasa－Amberjack

Hirame－Japanese flounder (Olive flounder)

Hirasuzuki－Blackfin seabass (Lateolabrax latus Katayama, 1957)

Hitozuraharisenbon－Black-blotched porcupinefish

Hoki－Blue haki, Blue grenadier, Whiptail (Macruronus novaezelandiae (Hector, 1871))

Hokke－Okhotsk atka mackerel

Hoshigarei－Spotted halibut (Verasper variegatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846))

Houbou－Bluefin searobin, Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys spinosus (McClelland, 1844))

Houkihata－Broom grouper

Ikanago－Pacific sand lance

Inada－Japanese amberjack (30〜40cm)

Ira－Wrasse, Tuskfish

Isaki－Striped pigfish

Ishidai－Barred knifejaw (Oplegnathus fasciatus (Temminck and Schlegel,1844))

Ishigakidai－Spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Ishigakifugu－Spotfin burrfish

Ishigarei－Stone flounder (Platichthys bicoloratus (Basilewsky,1855))

Ishimochi (Shiroguchi)－Sliver croaker (Pennahia argentata (Houttuyn,1782 ))

Itou－Sakhalin taimen (Hucho perryi (Brevoort, 1856))

Itoyoridai－Golden threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus (Houttuyn, 1782))

Izumidai (Chika)－Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus,1766))

Kagamidai (Ginmatou)－John dorey, Mirror dory

Kagokakidai－Footballer

Kaiwari－Whitefin trevally, Horse kingfish (Kaiwarinus equula (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Kajika－Japanese sculpin

Kanafugu－Smooth Blaasop

Kanagashira－Searobin (Lepidotrigla microptera Günther, 1873)

Kanpachi－Greater amberjack

Karafutomasu－Pink salmon

Karasu (Gatoro)－(Takifugu chinensis (Abe, 1949))

Karasugarei－Greenland halibut

Kasago－Marbled rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus (Cuvier, 1829))

Kawahagi－Filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850))

Keiji－Chum salmon, Dog salmon, Keta salmon

Kichinu (Kibire)－Yellowfin sea-bream

Kidai (Renkodai)－Yellowback seabream (Dentex hypselosomus Bleeker, 1854)

Kijihata (Akou)－Redspotted Grouper

Kingklip－Pink cusk-eel (Genypterus blacodes  (Forster, 1801))

Kinki (Kichiji)－Thornhead (Sebastolobus macrochir (Günther, 1877))

Kinmedai－Splendid alfonsino (Beryx splendens Lowe,1834)

Kintokidai－Red bigeye (Priacanthus macracanthus Cuvier,1829)

Kitenhata－Duskytail grouper

Kitsunemebaru (Mazoi)－Fox jacopever (Sebastes vulpes Döderlein, 1884)

Kochi (Magochi)－Bartail flathead

Korodai－Painted sweetlip

Koshodai－Crescent sweetlips (Plectorhinchus cinctus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1843))

Kue－Longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus Bloch, 1793)

Kurodai (Chinu)－Blackhead seabream

Kuromebaru－Brown rockfish (Sebastes ventricosus Temminck and Schlegel,1843)

Kuromejina－Smallscale blackfish (Girella leonina (Richardson,1846))

Kurosabafugu－Dark rough-backed puffer

Kurosoi－Black rockfish, Schlegel’s rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii Hilgendorf, 1880)

Kurumadai－Japanese bigeye (Pristigenys niphonia (Cuvier,1829))

Kusafugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Kyuusen－Wrasse

Okinamejina－ (Girella mezina Jordan & Starks, 1907)

Mafugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Mahata (Hata)－Grouper, Rock-cod, Seven band grouper (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus (Thunberg 1793))

Mahaze－Spiny goby, Yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1845))

Mahi-mahi (Shiira)－Common dolphinfish

Makogarei－Marbled sole

Managatsuo－Silver pomfret (Pampus punctatissimus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845))

Masunosuke－King salmon

Matoudai－John dory (Zeus faber Linnaeus, 1758)

Matsukawagarei (Matsukawa)－Barfin flounder (Verasper moseri Jordan & Gilbert, 1898)

Mebaru－Rockfish

Medai－Japanese butterfish

Megochi－Bigeyed flathead

Mehikari－Bigeyed greeneye (Chlorophthalmus albatrossis Jordan & Starks, 1904)

Meichidai－Nakedhead (Gymnocranius griseus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Meitagarei－Finespotted flounder, Ridged-eye flounder

Mejika－Chum salmon, Dog salmon, Keta salmon

Mejina－Largescale blackish, Greeenfish, Nibbler, Rudderfish (Girella punctata Gray, 1835)

Merurusa (New Zealand heiku)－Southern haku, Haku, whiting (Merluccius australis  (Hutton, 1872))

Mutsu－Japanese bluefish

Nametagarei (Babagarei)－Slime flounder

Nashifugu－Purple puffer

Nezumifugu－Spot-fin porcupinefish

Nezumigochi (Megochi)－Richardson’s dragonet

Nibe－Honnibe croaker (Nibea mitsukurii (Jordan and Snyder, 1900))

Nijimasu－Rainbow trout

Nikko Iwana－(Salvelinus leucomaenis pluvius (Hilgendorf, 1876))

Nizadai－Scalpel sawtail

Nodoguro (Akamutsu)－Blackthroat seaperch

Ohyo－ Halibut

Ojisan－ Manybar goatfish

Okimebaru－ Goldeye rockfish

Okoze (Oniokoze)－Devil stinger (Inimicus japonicus (Cuvier, 1829))

Oomehata－Silvergray seaperch (Malakichthys griseus Döderlein,1883)

Oomematoudai－(Allocyttus verrucosus (Gilchrist,1906))

Peherei－(Odontesthes bonariensis (Valenciennes, 1835))

Sake －Salmon

Sakuramasu －Cherry salmon (Oncorhynchus masou subsp. masou)

Salmon trout －(Artificially created rainbow trout varieties)

Samegarei －Roughscale sole

Sawara－Japanese spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius (Cuvier, 1832))

Sennen－Enperor red snapper

Shima aji－Crevalle jack (Trevally)

Shimafugu－Striped puffer

Shinshu salmon－(A crossbreed between a male brown trout and a female rainbow trout)

Shirasu－Whitebait

Shirohirasu－White warehou (Seriolella caerulea Guichenot, 1848)

Shirokurabera (Makubu)－Blackspot tuskfish

Shiromebaru－Rockfish (Sebastes cheni Barsukov,1988)

Shirosabafugu (Sabafugu)－Half-smooth golden pufferfish

Shirosuzuki －Nile perch (Lates niloticus (Linnaeus))

Shirozake (Shake)－Chum salmon

Shosaifugu－Globefish, Blowfish, Puffer

Sokoitoyoridai－Yellowbelly threadfin bream (Nemipterus bathybius Snyder, 1911)

Sugi－Cobia (Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766))

Sujiara－Leopard coralgrouper

Suzuki－Japanese seaperch

Tai (Madai)－Red seabream (Pagrus major (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844))

Taiseiyosake－Atlantic salmon

Takasago (Gurukun)－Black-tip fusilier (Pterocaesio digramma (Bleeker, 1864))

Tara (Madara)－Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus Tilesius, 1810)

Tobinumeri－(Repomucenus beniteguri (Jordan and Snyder, 1900))

Tokishirazu (Toki)－Chum salmon, Dog salmon, Keta salmon

Torafugu－Japanese pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes (Temminck and Schlegel, 1850))

Toujin－Hardhead grenadier (Coelorinchus japonicus (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846))

Tsumuburi－Rainbow runner

Ukkarikasago－ (Sebastiscus tertius Barsukov and Chen, 1978)

Umazurahagi－Leatherfish (Thamnaconus modestus (Gunther,1877))

Umeiro－Yellowtail blue snapper

Umeiromodoki－Yellow and blueback fusilier

Usubahagi－Unicorn leatherjacket filefish

Usumebaru－Goldeye rockfish (Sebastes thompsoni (Jordan and Hubbs, 1925))

Utsubo－Brutal moray (Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck and Schlegel, 1847))

Yaitohata－Malabar grouper

Yamato Iwana－(Salvelinus leucomaenis japonicus (Oshima, 1938))

Yanagi-no-mai－Yellow body rockfish

Yarinumeri－(Repomucenus huguenini (Bleeker, 1859))

Yoritofugu－Blunthead puffer

Yoroiitatiuo (Higedara)－Armoured cusk

Yumekasago－Scorpionfish (Helicolenus hilgendorfi (Steindachner and Döderlein, 1884))

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We hope this information will be helpful.

Revision date: April 6, 2023

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