Black scraper nigiri

Black scraper (Umazurahagi)

【Nigiri sushi: Shiromi】
Black scraper (Umazurahagi) may not look particularly appetizing because of its dull coloration, but once its skin is removed, it reveals translucent white flesh similar to that of a pufferfish. Its rich, umami-packed liver is placed raw or lightly seared on top of the sushi topping. It can be enjoyed with “liver soy sauce” (made by dissolving the liver in soy sauce), or with grated daikon radish and scallions as garnishes, accompanied by ponzu sauce.

Although it tends to be underrated compared to threadsail filefish (Kawahagi) and pufferfish (Fugu), it is relatively affordable yet highly valued as a sushi topping in its own right, and is by no means merely a substitute for kawahagi. To our knowledge, it is landed in significant quantities in Toyama Prefecture during the winter, where it is popular as sashimi and sushi. In Tokyo, however, supplies from markets such as Toyosu Market are inconsistent, so relatively few restaurants serve it as nigiri sushi.

【Also known as】
Filefish, Scraper

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(First post on October 30, 2026)