Silver salmon nigiri

Silver salmon (Ginzake)

【Nigiri sushi: Shiromi】
Wild silver salmon are widely distributed in the North Pacific, including along the coast of North America, and are imported into Japan from regions such as Alaska and Russia. Although they are occasionally caught in Japan—for example, in Hokkaido—the catch in Japan is very limited, and most of the wild silver salmon available on the domestic market are imported.

On the other hand, farmed silver salmon constitutes the bulk of the silver salmon available in Japan. Miyagi Prefecture is the center of silver salmon farming in Japan—it is also the birthplace of silver salmon farming in the country—and accounts for approximately 90 percent of domestic production. Among imported silver salmon, Chilean silver salmon accounts for the vast majority; specifically, in the first half of 2024, Chile supplied approximately 99 percent of the frozen silver salmon imported into Japan. Chilean farmed silver salmon is used not only in raw dishes such as sushi and sashimi but also in a wide range of dishes and prepared foods, including rice balls and bento boxes.

Wild silver salmon is also used for sushi and sashimi in places such as Alaska. Compared with sockeye salmon and king salmon, it has a paler hue, a milder and more delicate flavor, and a fine-grained, semi-firm texture.

In contrast, “Miyagi Salmon” is exceptionally rich in fat, with a rich sweetness and pronounced umami flavor, and is characterized by a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Thanks to processing methods designed to preserve freshness, it maintains a high level of freshness and can be consumed raw without being frozen beforehand. In recent years, it has been served at major conveyor-belt sushi chains as well as sushi restaurants in Miyagi Prefecture.

【What is Silver Salmon (Ginzake)】
Wild silver salmon, also known as coho salmon, are found throughout the northern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Russian Far East and the Kuril Islands to as far south as California in the United States. Their distribution lies slightly south of that of chum and sockeye salmon. Although they resemble chum salmon in appearance, silver salmon are distinguished by their bright silvery skin and small black spots extending from the back to the tail. They can grow to lengths of over 70 cm. Notably, they do not migrate upstream into rivers in Hokkaido.

【Related contents】
List of White flesh fish (Shiromi)

(Revision date: August 22, 2026)