【Reading】かんぶり

【English Name】Kan-Buri (Winter Yellowtail)

Kan-buri (cold yellowtail) refers to yellowtail (buri) caught around December to February. Mature fish that have stored nutrients before spawning are rich in fat and far more flavorful. Those landed on the Sea of Japan side in particular are prized. It is a large migratory fish of the family Carangidae, reaching about 1 m in length and 8 kg in weight. As a sushi topping, the marbling of fat is outstanding, and the pale pink flesh spreads a melting texture and a sweet umami. It is also served as nigiri, sashimi, and seared. It is a representative shusse-uo (fish that changes names as it grows): in the Kanto region it is called wakashi to inada to warasa to buri, and in the Kansai region tsubasu to hamachi to mejiro to buri. Hokuriku-region fish such as those from Himi in Toyama Prefecture are known as brand fish and are used as year-end and New Year gifts. In recent years catches have also increased in Hokkaido, and Shiranuka Town is advancing the branding of gokkan-buri (extreme-cold yellowtail).