Red flesh
Striped bonito (Hagatsuo)
【Nigiri sushi: Akami】
Striped bonito (Hagatsuo) is found in the central and southern parts of Honshu and the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. It has a body shape similar to that of bonito, with a length of 50–100 cm. While bonito has black vertical stripes on its abdomen, hagatsuo has black vertical stripes on its back.Hagatsuo is also known as “Sabagatsuo” due to its slender, mackerel-like body, and “Kitsunegatsuo” because of its sharp, large teeth. It is not a highly abundant fish species and therefore has low recognition.
It is suitable for dishes such as salt-grilled or teriyaki-style cooking. Namero, a dish made from the bloodline, is a delicacy. It has a chewy texture and a smooth, fatty flavor similar to that of Spanish mackerel, combining the best qualities of both Spanish mackerel and bonito. Additionally, due to its short shelf life, Hagagatsuo sashimi and sushi are best enjoyed at the place of origin. We have never heard of a sushi restaurant in Tokyo that serves Hagatsuo nigiri sushi.
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List of Red flesh fish (Akami)
Main production area
Mie Kochi Miyazaki Kagoshima
Season
Autumn－Winter