【Reading】かんぬき

【English Name】Kannuki (Large Halfbeak)

Kannuki is a market name referring to a large halfbeak (sayori). The name is said to derive from likening the figure of a sayori grown thick to the "kannuki," the horizontal bar used to secure a gate or door.

The sayori is a fish whose name changes as it grows: thin, small individuals are called "enpitsu" (pencil), while large individuals with thick flesh are called "kannuki." Roughly a body length of 30cm or more is taken as a guideline, though there is no clear-cut standard. This distinction by name is used especially among markets and fishery workers in the Kanto region, and is said to have spread to anglers as well.

The sayori itself belongs to the family Hemiramphidae of the order Beloniformes, with the scientific name Hyporhamphus sajori. Known production areas include Chiba, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Hiroshima, and Kagawa prefectures. Its season is mainly from autumn to spring, and it is said to be fatty and flavorful in the period before spawning.

As a sushi topping, kannuki has thicker flesh and more eating satisfaction than ordinary sayori. At Toyosu Market it may fetch a price approaching 10,000 yen per kilogram, and it is treated as a premium white-fleshed topping. Characterized by a flesh that is delicate yet has an elegant sweetness and translucency, it is often served as nigiri or sashimi.