June Seasonal Japanese Seafood

The waters are warming up around Japan and many of the fish coming to market now are lean like katsuo. Here is a sashimi platter at our home, Izakaya Sakamoto. The big fish in the back is Tokyo Bay aji, iwashi, lean katsuo, kisu, and shiriyake-ika. This tsubugai sashimi was served at a izakaya specializing in shōchū, Bettako. One…

April Seasonal Japanese Seafood 4月旬の鮮魚

uni uni pasta spring sashimi by Shinji Sakamoto   kinmedai sushi madai carpaccio Saikyo miso marinated honmasu The cherry blossoms have peaked in Tokyo as the weather has warmed up. This time of year we are seeing the last of the creamy shirako (milt) that we love so much as well as many fish eggs. The nabé hot…

September Seasonal Japanese Seafood 9月旬の魚

September Seasonal Japanese Seafood Perhaps no fish signals the arrival of autumn to me than sanma (Pacific saury), a silver skinned, long and skinny fish that for me is best when simply salted and grilled. This at night with a glass of nihonshu or shochu is heaven for me. What many Japanese especially appreciate is the…