SushiUniversity®

Gnomefish (Kuromutsu)

【Nigiri sushi: Shiromi】
What is Mutsu?
Mutsu (Japanese bluefish) lives in the Pacific Ocean from Hokkaido to Kyushu, in the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea at depths of 200 to 700 meters. It can grow to up to 50 cm. On the other hand, the Kuro-mutsu (Gnomefish) is only found in a very small area from Fukushima Prefecture to the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula. It grows to be 30 to 80 cm. Mutsu and Kuro-mutsu are extremely similar and normally they are not distinguished, so here we will refer to them both as Mutsu.

【The taste of Gnomefish nigiri sushi】
It has a rich flavor and is full of aromatic fat, and is slightly seared to make nigiri sushi. Many sushi chefs use red vinegar and raise the temperature of the vinegared rice.

【Trivia】
Mutsu were disturbers a long time ago when we were fishing Splendid alfonsino (Kinmedai). And they were not really liked by Edo people who don't really like oily taste. However the price of them went up rapidly when it proved that they are actually really tasty fish. And they are one of those high-quality fish today.

【Substitute fish】
Chilean sea bass: Dissostichus eleginoides