【Reading】さっぱ

【English Name】Japanese Sardinella (Sappa)

Sappa is a small shiny-skinned fish of the family Clupeidae in the order Clupeiformes, 10–20 cm in length. It has a laterally flattened body, blue-green on the back and silvery-white on the belly. A distinctive feature is its hard scales that do not fall off easily. It inhabits brackish coastal and estuarine zones south of Hokkaido in large numbers, with a distribution extending toward the Philippines. It is strongly sedentary and does not undertake large-scale migrations. Because it has many small bones, it is generally served su-jime (vinegar-cured); pickling in vinegar softens the bones and enhances its refreshing flavor. In the Seto Inland region it is known as "mamakari" and is cherished as a local taste of Okayama Prefecture.