What is kibinago in sushi?黍魚子
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi kibinago.
How to call kibinago
【kibinago】silver-stripe herring, pond herring キビナゴ 黍魚子
The yellowtail is a small fish that lives in subtropical waters such as the Indian Ocean and the Western Atlantic Ocean. In fact, it is known to have many other names, such as Hamaiwashi, Hamago, and Hamagoi in Japan’s Shizuoka Prefecture, “Kiminago” in Mie Prefecture, and “Surun” in Kagoshima Prefecture. In addition, in Wakayama Prefecture, there are cases where other fish are included in the name, such as “Kibunaiwashi”.
The peak season for kibinago
Kibinago season occurs three times a year.
Early summer (kibinago with children): May to June
At this time of the year, young finfish with babies are on the market. It is said that tempura, fries, and fried chicken are delicious because they have eggs in their bellies2.
Late autumn to early winter: November to December
At this time of year, when the weather turns cold and all fish become delicious, the flavor of Kibinago also increases.
Winter-Spring: January-March
They eat food and store fat in preparation for spawning, so the fat is delicious.
From the above information, we can say that the best season for kibinago is early summer from May to June, late autumn to early winter from November to December, and winter to spring from January to March. Choose fresh Kibinago at this time of year and enjoy its deliciousness to its fullest.
