【Reading】はまね

【English Name】beach price

Hamane is an industry term referring to the price at which fish and shellfish landed at a fishing port are first traded.

Fish caught by fishermen are first put up for auction or tender at the fishing port market. The price set at this stage is the "hamane," and it can be called the starting price of distribution. The hamane fluctuates daily due to various factors such as the volume of the catch, the freshness of the fish, the weather, and seasonal changes in demand.

After the hamane, transport costs and handling fees are added on until the goods reach retail shops and restaurants via intermediate wholesalers and the wholesale market. For this reason, the hamane is generally the lowest level of price in the distribution process. For the purchasing staff of sushi shops, grasping the trends of the hamane is important information directly linked to managing the cost of toppings.

Expressions such as "the hamane is high" or "the hamane has collapsed" are used daily among fishery workers, fresh-fish shops, and sushi chefs. "Hama-soba" is also used as a synonym.