Speaking of fish from Akita Prefecture, this is it! 《Hatahata》 and 《shotsuru nabe》

"Hatahata" is "Thunderfish ." It is mainly caught along the Sea of ​​Japan coast and is famous throughout the country as a specialty of Akita Prefecture, appearing in songs.

In Akita Prefecture, people have long eaten dishes made with sandfish during the harsh snowstorms of winter. Nowadays, with advances in marine and preservation techniques, sandfish is known as a fish that can be eaten all year round, but many people still seem to have the impression that sandfish is a winter fish

If you visit Akita, you should definitely try the sandfish. We will talk about sandfish and dishes made with it

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What kind of fish is Akita's prefectural fish, the hatahata?

The sandfish is designated as the prefectural fish of Akita Prefecture . It is sung in the Akita Ondo song with the lyrics "Akita specialty, Hachimori sandfish," and it also appears in documents written about Akita by Sugae Masumi, a scholar from the late Edo period. When you think of Akita Prefecture, the sandfish is so closely associated with it that it is the fish that is most closely associated with it.

Hatahata is a winter fish that is caught in Akita Prefecture from around November, when blizzards and thunder are most prevalent. The name Hatahata is said to come from the rough winter seas of "Hatahata." Alternatively, it is said that "Hatahata" means the rumbling sound of thunder. The winter seas of Akita are rough with thunder and thunder, and Hatahata, which is caught in these conditions, is a fish that evokes the winter sea and thunder. Hatahata is also known as "Kaminariuo" (Thunderfish), which is also associated with winter and thunder. In Akita, it is also called "Satakeuo," after the name of a lord.

Sandfish is a scaleless fish with almost no small bones. Even the single straight bone can be easily chewed when cooked, so it is sometimes eaten bone-in. To remove the bone, loosen the flesh a little and it will come out easily. It has a light, mild taste and almost no odor. This is why sandfish is used in a variety of traditional dishes in Akita Prefecture

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Sandfish dishes and shottsuru

Sandfish is eaten in a variety of ways, such as grilled with salt, simmered, in sushi, dengaku, and kanroni. You'll likely see many processed sandfish products in souvenir shops in Akita Prefecture

Sandfish dishes are often served in Akita's izakayas throughout the year, and many tourists can be seen enjoying sandfish dishes along with the famous "kiritanpo nabe" hotpot while enjoying a drink of sake, a specialty of Akita

Among the various processed sandfish products and dishes, shottsuru is particularly famous. Shottsuru a fish sauce made by fermenting sandfish . Hot pots made with shottsuru are also called shottsuru (shottsuru hot pot). Shottsuru hot pots are hot pots in which vegetables and sandfish are simmered, and shottsuru is used as a seasoning. Sometimes shells are used instead of a pot, in which case the dish is also called kayaki (grilled shellfish).

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lastly

Sandfish shottsuru, a traditional dish served in many restaurants in Akita Prefecture, is a delicacy that you should try at least once if you visit Akita. Depending on the season, some restaurants will grill fresh sandfish for you, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors with just one fish: sandfish

As its name suggests, sandfish is an essential fish on the Akita winter table. It is a traditional and famous dish. However, be sure to try sandfish dishes, which are also home-cooked dishes. When you do, don't forget to enjoy some hot Akita sake!

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