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SANMA – Pacific Saury

According to a pre-fishing season investigation conducted between June and July, this year’s Pacific saury is characterized by the amounts of large specimens (1-year-old). Despite sluggish change from last year’s catch which did not see a large migration during the start of the fishing season (until mid-September), it is expected that catches should improve. Fishery localities are expected to settle into place by mid-October, when the schools of Pacific saury head south from the Sanriku waters, later than last year. Although this year doesn’t promise large-volume catches, there are more individually large fish which should lend to enjoying a more fatty-flavor of pacific saury all around.
今年の6～7月に行われたサンマの漁期前調査の結果によると、今年のサンマは大型個体（1歳）が多いのが特徴です。漁期序盤（9月中旬まで）の来遊量は漁獲量が少なめだった前年並の低調に推移するものの、その後回復する事が予想されます。三陸海域への魚群の南下時期は、例年よりも遅くなり漁場の形成は10月中旬となりそうです。今年は漁獲量は少なめのようですが、一方で大型個体が多いことが予想され、トロ秋刀魚を味わえそうです。

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MODORI-GATSUO – MODORI(Returning) Bonito

The delicious ‘returning’ bonito (bonito that is returning southward in the fall/winter after having gone north in the spring) season has arrived with the fall season upon us. Bonito of this season have had ample food to eat offering plenty of fatty meat, otherwise called “torogatsuo” (fatty-bonito). Enjoy the different flavors bonito offers between the light, fresh early bonito (spring/summer season), as well as the rich, buttery flavor of returning bonito.
本格的な秋になり、戻り鰹が美味しい季節になりました。この時期の鰹はエサをたっぷりと食べ、しっかりと脂がのった「トロ鰹」です。初鰹のさっぱりとした味わい、戻り鰹のこってりとした濃厚な味わい、 その季節ごとの味覚と情緒をご堪能ください。

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HAGATSUO – Skipjack/Striped Bonito

Fall is the season for good striped bonito. The fragrance and taste when grilling the skin are rich, and especially delicious when braised. The red meat, comparable to a cross between Japanese Spanish mackerel and bonito without the metallic aftertaste, combined with the umami, provides a flavor unique to itself. The markets of Fukuoka offer fresh shipping to the U.S. by capitalizing on their proximity to the fisheries.
秋はハガツオの美味しい季節。皮目を焼いたときの香りと風味が良く、「たたき」にすると絶品です。カツオとサワラの中間程度の赤身はカツオ特有の鉄臭さが無く、尚且つ旨みもあり極わめて美味です。福岡市場は産地に近い強みを活かして、最高に新鮮な状態でアメリカに直接発送します。

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TOSASHIMIZU KINMEDAI – Alfonsino

The north-flowing “Kuroshio” ocean current brings a rich ocean harvest to Tosashimizu City in the southeastern part of Kochi, Japan.
Fishermen on small boats catch kinmedai one by one with fly fishing gear. The fish are handled very carefully, and in the evening of the same day they are packed for shipping to cities in the USA.
黒潮によって豊かに育ったキンメを一本づつ毛鉤で釣り上げました。小舟に乗った漁師さんが大切に扱ったキンメを夕競りで買い付け、そのままアメリカに向けて直送します。

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INA-SABA – “INA” Mackerel

Ina-Saba is a brand of Japanese mackerel that is caught in the rich sea of the Tsushima area. Only selected pieces are picked for Ina-Saba brand, according to the following strict standards:
1) Caught by pole-and-line 2) No scratches on the body 3) More than 6 hours cooling time immediately after harvest 4) Size
伊奈漁港に上がったサバの中から、厳格な基準を満たしたもののみが伊奈サバとして出荷されます。一本釣り、魚体に傷が無い、水揚げした直後水氷で6時間以上冷やし込みされたもの、5キロ前後でひと箱になるようにサイズ選別された物といった点が基準になります。

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SAWARA – Japanese Spanish Mackerel

Although known as a mainstay Spring fish, ‘cold’ Japanese Spanish Mackerel caught in the fall and winter are delicious due to their marbling.
Very delicious as sashimi and absolutely exquisite when grilled. Vast styles of preparations such as Yuan Yaki with the hint of pumelo flavoring, Saikyo Zuke using sweet Kyoto miso, meuniere, and frying are popular, although of course, especially fresh catches can be enjoyed as sushi or sashimi.
代表的な春の魚の一つサワラですが、秋から冬の脂がのった寒サワラも極上の美味しさです。
刺身も抜群に美味しい魚ですが、焼き物としても極上の一品です。新鮮なものはお寿司やお刺身はもちろんの事、幽庵焼きや西京漬け、ムニエル、フライなど、幅広い料理方にお使いいただけます。

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MEDAI – Japanese Butterfish

Japanese butterfish is caught all-year-long with differing seasons depending on the localities. The pre-spawning season, around October, is considered to be the best season for those residing around Fukuoka and the San’in Region as the fish has ample marbling.
While fresh and fatty Japanese butterfish is good for sashimi, carpaccio and kobujime (tying with kombu kelp for flavor) are also very tasty. Japanese butterfish is a fish that can be enjoyed in many ways to include grilling and Saikyo-zuke (pickling with sweet Kyoto-style miso).
年間通して漁獲される魚で、旬の時期は地域により異なります。福岡や山陰地方では産卵期前の10月が脂の最も載っている美味しい時期とされています。
鮮度が良く脂ののったものは刺身に向いていますが、昆布締めやカルパッチョにしても大変美味い魚です。焼き物や西京漬けなどにもむいており、幅広い料理方法にお使いいただけるお魚です。

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“BENIHITOMI” AKAMUTSU – Black throat

“Benihitomi” is a brand name of akamutsu, a fish caught in the oceans of the Tsushima and Iki Island area by the “Jigokunawa” fishing method. “Benihitomi” is called the “King of Akamutsu”.
対馬、壱岐の地獄縄という漁法でとれたアカムツを紅瞳と呼びます。
最高の鮮度と脂ののりでアカムツの王様です。

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TSURI-AJI – “Tsuri” (hook and line fishing) Horse Mackerel

This is the best season to find quality ‘Tsuri’ horse mackerel in the markets. As you know, they are the most pristine horse mackerel that have been processed by thoroughly letting out the blood and so on after the fishermen hang each fish individually.
この時期、市場に良い状態の釣りアジが入ってきています。ご存知の通り漁師さんが一本づつ釣り上げた後、丁寧に血抜き処理などを行った最上級の鯵です。

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KAMASU – Japanese Barracuda

It is fall, and the season is here when we can find Japanese barracuda that is well-marbled. The season for barracuda is known to be between fall and early winter when the marbling is at its best, as well as around the spring when they prey on food and build their strength in preparation for the spawning season. Barracuda during this season can be best enjoyed as grilled or sashimi. Don’t miss this chance to try them if you haven’t yet.
秋になり脂がのったカマスが入荷してくる時期になりました。カマスの旬は脂がのってくる秋から初冬と、それに加えて活発に捕食して産卵に向けて栄養を蓄える春頃と言われています。この時期のカマスは焼いてもお刺身でも最高の美味しさが味わえます。是非お試しください。

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TACHIUO – Beltfish

The spawning season for beltfish is between June and October when the catches are at their peaks. The best time for enjoying them is also said to be during this time. Nevertheless, it is also said that the period when they are growing and storing fat in preparation for winter is also a time when their flavor becomes even more impressive.
タチウオの産卵期は6～10月でその時期が漁獲量の最も多い時期です。旬もその頃と言われますが、実は冬を前に魚体が大きくなり脂がのってくる頃の方が美味しさが一層増す時期とも言われます。

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KAWAHAGI – Filefish

The taste of file fish is good year-round, but especially in Autumn, the best season for this fish. Sashimi with “Kimo-Shoyu” is supremely delicious. “Kimo-Shoyu” is mixed soy sauce with boiled liver of the fish.　年間通して美味しい魚ですが、特に秋から冬には旨味ののった白身に肝の取り合わせが最高の味わいになります。肝をゆでてしょうゆに溶かし込んだ肝醤油を刺身に使うのも絶品です。

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MAHATA – Grouper

Many types of grouper can be enjoyed in Kyushu. Sevenband grouper (Mahata) is the most recommended for this season. Although it is a fish that is not well-distributed among other markets, it is often found in the markets of Fukuoka. The firm texture of the fish is delectable enjoyed as thin-slices.
色々なハタが穫れる九州ですが、この時期は真ハタがおすすめ。他の市場には殆ど流通しない魚ですが、福岡市場では良く見かけます。歯ごたえのある身はうす造りして絶品。福岡　活ハタ類安定して入荷します。

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KUE(ARA) – Longtooth Grouper

As you well know, longtooth grouper is considered in the markets in the Kyushu area to be an extra-high-quality fish due to their flavor and sparse distribution. They have fluffy white meat while their skin is thick and full of collagen. Yet although they are a fatty fish, they are subtler and lighter compared to fatty tuna, and when cooked in nabe soups, the collagen mixes with the stock to produce a delicate flavor.
The translucent white meat has a strong texture that also lends to a pleasant texture when enjoyed as sashimi. Their plentiful marbling makes for a light, refined flavor.
ご存知の通り、美味しさと流通量の少なさにゆえに九州方面の市場では超高級魚として扱われているお魚。ふっくらした白身を持ち、厚い皮にはコラーゲンが豊富です。脂がたっぷりのっていますが、マグロの大トロとは異なり上品でさらっとした脂です。鍋にすると皮のコラーゲンが、だし汁にとけ込んでとても美味です。
透明感のある白身は弾力に富み、刺身でも歯ごたえがしっかりと感じられます。脂がたっぷりとのっていますがさらっとした上品な美味しさです。

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ITOYORI – Threadfin bream

The bright pink of this fish adds the color to the sashimi-dish as well as a taste. In Japan, it’s high-end class fish. Sashimi with firm skin is ultimately tasty. This fish is good not only for Japanese foods, it’s good for sauteed with butter or Meuniere.
華やかなピンク色の刺身は美味しさだけではなく料理に彩りも添えます。関西では祝い魚としても食されてきました。霜皮造りの刺身は絶品です。
日本食だけでなくバター焼きやムニエルなどの西洋料理にも使われます。

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YARI-IKA – Spear squid

Though traditionally squid were only fished during the night, with the advent of the vertical long-line fishing method, they can now be caught during the daytime during seasons other than summer. Try preparing them as sashimi or tempura. In Fukuoka, still-live (ikizukuri) preparations are preferred.
従来イカ釣は夜だけでしたが、今では樽流し（たて延縄）漁法が開発されて、夏以外の時期の昼間でも獲れるようになりました。刺身・てんぷらなどで美味しくお召し上がりください。福岡では活づくりが主流です。

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UCHIWAEBI – Fan lobster

Despite looking flat and thin with almost no meat to speak of, fan lobster actually has quite a bit of sweet, juicy meat that is deceivingly plentiful.
Although not well-known across Japan due to fishing restrictions and circulating only in local markets, they are a shrimp-family that are considered by some to be more delicious than Japanese spiny lobster.
見た目の形状が平たく薄く見えるため、一見歩留まりが悪く食べるところがあまり無いようにみえますが、意外に身がたっぷりと詰まり、味も甘くて食感も程よいぷりぷり感があります。
漁獲量が制限されているため、地元の市場中心に出回ってきているために全国的な知名度は少ないものの、伊勢海老よりも味は上という方もいるほどの海老です。