Have you ever heard of a fish called sandfish?
It is a fish that is caught in winter, and it is eaten by almost everyone in the north part of Japan.The Japanese poet Saisei Muro even wrote a poem about this fish.
As he mentions in the opening line of this poem, “the fish called sandfish, the sandfish is rose pink,” the sandfish is a scaleless fish with light silver skin with a pink indentation somewhat reminiscent of the cheeks of a young girl in high spirits, making this fish look quite charming.
In Akita Prefecture where sandfish is the official fish of the prefecture, people call the egg “buriko.”
They enjoy eating these eggs.
A sandfish with a belly full of eggs will command the highest price.
While there are many ways to eat sandfish such as in shottsuru-nabe (a type of Akita hot pot dish), pickled sandfish, or sandfish sushi, the most commonly recommended preparation is grilled sandfish.
Buriko have an especially strong and sticky flavor.
While each individual egg is small, the eggs harden if you grill them and you can enjoy the sensation of squishing several eggs inside your mouth.
Saisei Muro ends his poem with the line “Children from the north love eating grilled sandfish.
Seeing sandfish in the winter always makes me think of my mother,” reflecting that sandfish is a well-loved fish in cold regions that is popular among everyone.
I am originally from Akita and I receive sandfish from my hometown every winter.
When I look at the beautifully grilled pale pink skin of sandfish it brings back memories of my childhood and always somehow puts me in a good mood.
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