What is wakasagi in sushi?公魚
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi wakasagi.
How to call wakasagi
【wakasagi】pond smelt ワカサギ 公魚
Wakasagi is a small fish that is characterized by its small appearance, usually around 10 cm in length. Wakasagi is written in Japanese kanji as “Kongyo”, and it is thought that this name came from the fact that wakasagi were presented to the Shogun family at the time. Another name for smelt is “cattle egret” in the San’in region, and in other regions it is called by other names such as Owaka, Kowaka, and Saikachi.
The peak season for wakasagi
The season of smelt varies depending on its ecology. More details below.
Wakasagi: Wakasagi have been stocked in recent years, so they can be caught all year round in various parts of Japan. The peak season is from October to March, and the season is said to be especially fatty and delicious. In addition, the spawning season for smelt is from winter to spring, with the spawning season in Kanto from January to February, Tohoku from March to April, and Hokkaido from April to June. Smelt with young that are caught during this period are highly sought after and seem to fetch high prices.
Please refer to the above information and enjoy delicious wakasagi when it is in season.
