What is ika in sushi?イカ
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi ika.
How to call ika
【ika】squid イカ
As you know, there are many species of squid, and each species has its own local name or other name. Which squid is considered high-quality and is used in sushi? They are “Bigfin squid” and “Sparrow squid”. There is also a type of squid commonly used in conveyor belt sushi restaurants, such as the Japanese flying squid.
The mica you see at fishing grounds is this common squid. In addition to mica, Japanese common squid has different names depending on the region, such as jirmaica”,shimame”, surume”, andkanseki”.
The peak season for ika
There are many different types of squid, and each type has its own seasonal season1. Below, we will introduce the main types of squid commonly seen in Japan and their seasons.
Common squid: Although it can be caught constantly throughout the year, there are still seasons, and there is a clear difference in the amount caught between the peak season and the off-peak season.
Cuttlefish: Lives from Kanto to the south, and is often caught mainly along the Seto Inland Sea and Kyushu. Since they spawn from spring to early summer, their season is from winter to early spring.
Red squid: Caught mainly in the summer on the Sea of Japan side.
Bigfin squid: Famous as a high-quality squid from northern Japan.
Squid: Famous as a high-quality squid from northern Japan.
Firefly Squid: In Toyama, the sight of large schools of firefly squids approaching the shore to spawn in the spring, glowing blue-white as they wash up on the beach, is so magical that it is so famous that seasonal tours are organized.
Each of these squid has its own unique flavor and texture, and their deliciousness is even more pronounced when eaten when they are in season. In order to enjoy squid in season, it is important to know how fresh it is. The skin of most squid is translucent in the sea, but when it is landed, it often turns red, and then it loses its freshness and becomes cloudy. It feels fresh when the color and pattern are clear and transparent, and the color changes quickly when you touch the epidermis, and it goes without saying that the eyes are a beautiful black.
