【Reading】いとよりだい

【English Name】Golden Threadfin Bream

Itoyoridai (golden threadfin bream) is a saltwater white-fleshed fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, inhabiting the seabed of mixed sand and mud in the western Pacific. Its habitat depth is in the range of roughly 40 to 220 m, and it is known as a bottom-dwelling fish.

Its body color is pale pink on the upper part, with the white growing stronger toward the belly. Six yellowish vertical stripes run along its sides, a conspicuous feature useful in distinguishing it from other fish. Its body length averages about 23 cm, and individuals exceeding 35 cm have also been reported.

As for the origin of its Japanese name, the etymology is said to be that its way of swimming looks like the motion of twisting thread (ito o yoru). In market distribution the abbreviation "itoyori" is firmly established and is widely understood within the trade.

In Japan, distribution is confirmed along the Sea of Japan side south of Niigata, the Pacific side south of the Kashima-nada, and across the Seto Inland Sea. Landed mainly by fishing methods using bottom trawls and longlines, it is highly rated, especially in the Kansai region, as a white-fleshed fish rich in umami.

Because its flesh is fine-textured and soft, it suits sashimi and nigiri sushi if freshness is maintained. On the other hand, since it also has the property of falling apart easily, it is enjoyed in steamed dishes and salt-grilling as well. Its season is the period centered on winter, from late autumn into the cold season, when it takes on fat.

Note that on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this species is positioned in the VU (Vulnerable) category, and it has been reported that over the most recent 10 years based on 2010, the catch declined by about 30%.