【Reading】めじな

【English Name】Largescale Blackfish

Mejina (largescale blackfish) is a saltwater fish of the family Kyphosidae of the order Centrarchiformes, inhabiting the coasts of East Asia. Its body is laterally compressed and a blue-green-tinged gray; adults exceed 60 cm, but the mainstream of distribution is around 40 cm. A representative target fish of rock fishing, it has many local names: in Kansai it is called "gure," in Kyushu and Shimonoseki "kuro," and in Izu and Kansai "kuchibuto," and at fresh-fish counters it is sometimes sold as "kuromedai." Its season is winter. In summer it tends to develop a seaweed odor, but in winter, due to its seaweed diet, it becomes a light, refined white-fleshed fish. Besides nigiri and sashimi, it is widely used for tataki, simmering, and hot pots. Closely related species include the kuromejina (onagagure) and the okinamejina.