【Reading】ぶりこ

【English Name】Buriko (Hatahata Roe)

Buriko is the Akita dialect word for the roe of the sailfin sandfish (hatahata). These are eggs of 2-3 mm in diameter borne in the belly of females that approach the Akita coast in November-December, the surface of which is enveloped in a sticky liquid. When fresh ones are grilled they pop with a crackle, and a rich umami is felt. When salt-pickled or miso-pickled, the membrane becomes very hard and makes a distinctive buri-buri sound, and this chewiness is said to be the origin of the name. The color of the eggs varies among individuals as red, brown, green, or yellow, in which carotenoid pigments and vitamin A2 are involved. In Akita Prefecture there are regulations prohibiting the catching, possession, and sale of buriko, and it is a symbol of local culture, sung even in the folk song Akita Ondo.