these last past weeks have witnessed extreme heats and it must be reaaly tough work for fishermen to go at sea even at night!
Yesterday I visited Parch Market in JR Shizuoka Station to find out what was available as local fish and seafood!
Beautiful red fish over there!
Kinmedai/金目鯛/splendid alfonsino!
A local delicacy with a great name!
Not cheap for a medium-sized fish!
They had been brought in the morning from Kogawa harbor in Yaizu City!
there still some beautiful fish left in the “mixed batch”, too!
Kinmedai/金目鯛/splendid alfonsino (above) and Hobou/方々/red robins 8below)!
Small but expensive Kuchimidai/口美鯛/haarder, redlip mullet-Liza haematocheila (Temminck and Schlegel)!
A local expensive grouper also going by the name of “Menada/目奈陀・目魚”!
Other names I will have to add to the lexicon!
Usumebaru/薄目張 (also called Okimebara/沖目張): sebastes Thompson (Jordan and Hubbs): a variety of Japanese sea perch, Japanese rock fish.
Ko Aji/子鯵: very young horse mackerel (also called Mame aji/豆鯵)!
I thought that such a lexicon would become handy both for English-speaking newcomers and long term residents!
I wrote the Japanese pronunciation first, the Chinese (Japanese kanji) characters and the English translations.
Bear in mind that many seafood have many names depending on the Japanese region. These are the common names.
If you have a question I will be glad to investigate!
By seafood I meant everything used as food from the sea except fish which is treated in a separate article!
A separate lexicon is being prepared for sushi!
———————————————– CRABS
Takaashigani/高足蟹: Japanese spider crab, the largest crab in the world!
Aburagani/油蟹: blue king crab
Asahigani/旭蟹: frog crab, red frog crab
Benigani/紅蟹: another name for a Japanese variety of Zuwaigani/頭矮蟹: Snow crab
Gazami/蝤蛑(also called Wataraigani/渡り蟹): Swimming crab、Japanese blue crab
Kegani/毛蟹: Horsehair crab, Horse crab
Kurigani/栗蟹: Helmet Crab
Mozukugani/藻屑蟹: Japanese mitten crab
Taiwan gazami/台湾蝤蛑: Swimming blue crab, flower crab, blue crab, blue swimmer crab. blue manna crab
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Takaashigani/高足蟹: Japanese spider crab
Tarabagani/鱈場蟹: red king crab
Wataraigani/渡り蟹 (also called Gazami/蝤蛑): Swimming crab、Japanese blue crab
Zuwaigani/頭矮蟹: Snow crab
SHELLFISH
Hamaguri/蛤: Common orient clam as sushi!
Agemaki/揚巻: jack knife clam, sinonovacula constricta
Akaawabi/赤鮑 (also called Megaiawabi/目外鰒): a big variety of red abalone, haliotis (nordotis) gigantean Gmelin, 1791
Akagai/赤貝: Blood shellfish
Akanaeawabi/茜鮑: red abalone, Haliotis (Nordotis) rufescens Swainson
Aoyagi/青柳: Chinese mactra (also called Bakagai/破家蛤)
Atsuezobora/厚蝦夷法螺: a variety of buccinum whelk, neptunea helos (Gray, 1850)
Asari/浅利: Japanese littleneck, Manila clam
Awabi/鮑: abalone
Bai (or Baigai)/ 蛽、海蠃、海螄 : Japanese ivory shell, Japanese Babylon (also called Umi Tsubo/海つぼ)
Bakagai/破家蛤:Chinese mactra (also called Aoyagi/青柳)
Bateira/馬蹄螺: Top-shell (also called Isomono/いそもの)
Chigai/稚貝: small Scallops
Chiri awabi/チリ鮑: abalone imported from Chile
Ezo Awabi/蝦夷鰒: ezo abalone
Ezobai/蝦夷バイ: Small whelk variety Buccinum middendorff Verkruzen, 1882 (also called Iso Tsubugai/磯つぶ貝)
Hamaguri/蛤: Common orient clam
Himeshakogai/姫硨磲貝: a small Okinawan tridacninae, tridacna crocea
Hiougikai/緋扇貝: noble scallop
Hokkigai/北寄貝: Sakhalin surf clam (also called Ubagai/姥貝)
Honbinosugai/ホンビノスガイ: hard clam, Northern quahog
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Hotate/帆立: scallops
Ishigakigai/石垣貝: clinocardium californiense
Isomono/いそもの: Top-shell (also called Bateira/馬蹄螺)
Iso Tsubugai/磯つぶ貝: Small whelk variety Buccinum middendorff Verkruzen, 1882 (also called Ezobai/蝦夷バイ)
Kaki/牡蠣: oyster
Kuro awabi/黒鰒: black abalone
Madaka awabi/まだか鰒: madaka abalone
Mategai/馬刀貝: razor clam
Matsubu/真螺: whelk
Megai awabi/雌貝鰒 (also called Akaawabi/赤鮑): Megai abalone, a big variety of red abalone, haliotis (nordotis) gigantean Gmelin, 1791
Mirugai/海松貝: mirugai clam, (type of) horse clam, (type of) gaper clam (also called Mirukui/海松食、水松食)
Mirukui/海松食、水松食 8also called Shiromiru/白海松): mirugai clam, (type of) horse clam, (type of) gaper clam
Oomategai/大馬刀貝: larger razor clam
Oomizogai/大溝貝: siliqua alta
Rokogai/ロコ貝/ Baranacle Rock-shell, Concholepas concholepas (Bruguie, 1789)
Saragai/皿貝 (also called Shirogai/白貝): northern great tellin,megangulus venulosa (Schrenk)
Satougai/佐藤貝: bloody clam, Scapharca satowi (Dunker,1882)
Sazae/栄螺、拳螺: Horned Turban
Shirobai/白蛽、白海蠃、白海螄: white Japanese ivory shell, white Japanese babylon
Shirogai/白貝 (also called Saragai/皿貝): northern great tellin,megangulus venulosa (Schrenk)
Shiromiru/白海松 (also called Mirukui/海松食、水松食): mirugai clam, (type of) horse clam, (type of) gaper clam
Sudaregai/すだれ貝: Venus clam
Tairagai/平貝 (also called Tairagi/玉珧): pen shell
Tairagi/玉珧 (also called Tairagai/平貝): pen shell
Tokobushi/床臥, 常節: small ablone, Sulculus diversicolor supertexta
Torigai/鳥貝: Heart Clam、Japanese Cockle
Tsubugai/螺貝 (or Tsubu/螺): whelk
Ubagai/姥貝: Sakhalin surf clam (also called Hokkigai/北寄貝)
Umi Tsubo/海つぼ: Japanese ivory shell, Japanese Babylon（also called Bai (or Baigai)/ 蛽、海蠃、海螄 )
Yakougai/夜光貝: Great Green Turban
CRUSTACEANS
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Botan ebi/牡丹海老: Large Prawn
Aka ebi/赤海老: Red rice prawn, whiskered velvet shrimp
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Ama ebi/甘海老: sweet shrimp
Ashiaka ebi/足赤 (also called Kuma ebi/クマエビ): Green tiger prawn, Penaeus (Penaeus) semisulcatus De.Haan.1844
Botan ebi/牡丹海老: Large Prawn
Budou ebi/葡萄海老: “Grape shrimp”, pandalopsis miyakei hayashi
Burakku Taigaa ebi/ブラックタイガー海老: black tiger prawn
Ebi/海老、蝦、鰕: prawn, shrimp
Hokkai ebi/北海海老 (also called Shima ebi/縞海老): hokkai shrimp
Ibaramo ebi/茨藻海老(also called Oni ebi/鬼海老):spiny lebbeid, Greenland lebbeid
Ise ebi/伊勢海老: spiny lobster
Kuma ebi/クマエビ(also called Ashiaka/足赤): Green tiger prawn, Penaeus (Penaeus) semisulcatus De.Haan.1844
Kuruma ebi/車海老 (also called Saimakiebi/才巻き海老): large prawn
Oni ebi/鬼海老 (also called Ibaramo ebi/茨藻海老):spiny lebbeid, Greenland lebbeid
Saimakiebi/才巻き海老 (also called Kuruma ebi/車海老): large prawn
Akami/赤身: red lean part nigiri
Akami/赤身: red lean part
Chuutoro/中トロ：semi fat part
Chiai/血合い: the whole bloody central part of tuna, never used in sushi
Chiai gishi/血合いぎし: the bloody central part under the skin of tuna, never used in sushi
Engawa/縁側: border flesh of the fillets, especially with soles and flatfish
Fukahire/鱶ヒレ: shark fin
Ho/頬: “Cheek”, flesh near mouth (tuna in particular)
Ikura/いくら: salmon roe
Kama/かま: Flesh near the gills (tuna in particular)
Kami/上: part/flesh of a fish from the head (tuna in particular)
Kaperinko/カぺリン子: the eggs of a variety of Shishamo/柳葉魚: Shishamo (meaning willow leaf fish, a kind of Japanese smelt), Spirinchus lanceolatus
Kazunoko/数の子、鯑: herring roe
Madarako/真鱈子: Pacific cod roe
Mentaiko/明太子: spicy cod roe
Naka/中: central part/flesh of a fish (tuna in particular)
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Negitoro/ネギトロ: scraped underbelly part gunkan nigiri
Negitoro/ネギトロ: scraped underbelly part
O-Toro/おトロ: fat part, belly part
Shimo/下: part/flesh of fish near the tail (tuna in particular)
Sumiika/墨烏賊: Cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle,1885
Shimesaba/〆鯖: pickled mackerel, a popular way to serve it as sashimi or sushi
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Tara Shirako/白子: Cod Male fish whiting, sperm sacs gunkan nigiri
Shirako/白子: Male fish whiting, sperm sacs
Tarako/鱈子: Cod roe
Tobiko/飛子: flying fish roe
SQUIDS/CUTTLEFISH
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Aka Ika/赤烏賊: red spear squid gunkan nigiri
Aka Ika/赤烏賊: red spear squid
Aori ika/障泥烏賊 (also called Mizu ika/水烏賊): bigfin reef squid
Beika/米烏賊: a variety of spear squid loliolus (nipponololig) beka sasaki, 1929
Bozu ika/ボウズ烏賊: North Pacific bobtail, rossia (rossia) pacifica Berry, 1911
Budou ika/葡萄烏賊 (also called Kensaki ika/剣先烏賊: swordtip squid: “Grape squid”, Loligo (photololigo) forma budo Wakiya and Ishikawa, 1921
Ezohariika/蝦夷針烏賊: Andrea cuttlefish, Sepia (Doratosepion) andreana Steenstrup,1875
Hakutenkouika/泊天甲烏賊: Sepia (Doratosepion) aureomaculata Okutani & Horikawa, 1987
Hiika/
Himekouika/姫甲烏賊：Kobi cuttlefish, Sepia (Doratosepion) kobiensis Hoyle, 1885
Hotaru ika/蛍烏賊:
Hiika/ヒイカ( also called Shindo ika/深度烏賊: A variety of Sumiika/墨烏賊): Chinese ink cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle,1885
Ika/烏賊、魷: cuttlefish, squid
Kaminari ika/雷烏賊: Kisslip cuttlefish, Sepia (Acanthosepion) lycidas Gray, 1849
Kensaki ika/剣先烏賊: swordtip squid (also called Budou ika/葡萄烏賊: “Grape squid”), Loligo (photololigo) forma budo Wakiya and Ishikawa, 1921
Kou ika/子烏賊 (also called Mongouika/紋甲烏賊)： Golden cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle, 1885
Mizu ika/水烏賊 (also called Aori ika/障泥烏賊): bigfin reef squid
Mongouika/紋甲烏賊 (also called Kou ika/子烏賊): Golden cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle, 1885
Shindo ika/深度烏賊: A variety of Sumiika/墨烏賊 (also called Hiika/ヒイカ): Chinese ink cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle,1885
Shiriyake ika/尻焼け烏賊: Japanese spineless cuttlefish, Sepiella japonica Sasaki, 1929
Sode ika/袖烏賊：Rhomboid squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, 1857
Suji ika/筋烏賊: Luminous flying squid, ucleoteuthis luminosa (Sasaki, 1915)
Sumiika/墨烏賊: Chinese ink cuttlefish, Sepia (Platysepia) esculenta Hoyle,1885
Surume/鯣: dried cuttlefish, squid
Surume ika/鯣烏賊: Japanese flying squid, Japanese common squid, Pacific flying squid
Usubeni ika/薄紅烏賊: “light red cuttlefish”
Yariika/槍烏賊: Spear Squid
Octopuses
Chiirodako/知色鮹: Chiiro octopus
Iidako/飯蛸: Ocellated octopus
Madago/真鮹: Common octopus
Mizudako/水鮹: North Pacific Giant Octopuss
Tako/蛸、鮹： octopus
This the latest visit to the Shizuoka JR Station Parche supermarket in my regular search for seasonal and local seafood arriving directly every morning for the harbors of Numazu, Kogawa, Yui, Omaezaki, Mochimune, Shimoda and many others!
What did I find worthy of attention this first day of the week?
First of all the mixed batch of the day!
Hirame/平目/Sole, Madai/真鯛/Japanese red seabream, Magochi/真ゴチ/Flathead, Houbou/方々/Red Robin Gurnard, Kurodai/黒鯛/Japanese black porgy, Mejina・メジナ/Largescale Blackfish、Ishi kasago/居市カサゴ/A variety of rockfish, Ishidai/石鯛, Barred Knifejaw!
Takahashigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crab from Numazu harbor!
An expensive and a rare fish!
Amadai/甘鯛/Tilefis! See price below!
Mehikari/目光り/”Shining eyes”, a very deep sea fish caught in Eastern Suruga Bay!
The top price per 100 grams is for tilefish on top and mehikari at bottom!
Maaji/真あじ/Japanese jack mackerel!
From Yui harbor! Great sashimi!
Maaji/真あじ/Japanese jack mackerel from Yui!
Caught this morning and more expensive as the price is for only 100 grams!
Very big specimen for Sardines!
They come from Numazu Harbor and they are called Maiwashi/真鰯/Japanese pilchard!
Undecided customers!
One fish is from Shizuoka Prefecture, the other from Chiba Prefecture!
The black one is Honsawara/本さわら/Japanese Spanish mackerel and the red one, Kinmedai/金目鯛/Splendid Alfonsino from Shimoda harbor!
Akamutsu/赤むつ/Rosy seabass!
Jindouika/ジンドウイカ/A local squid variety!
Tsubodai/つぼ鯛/A seabream variety going by the Latin name of Pentaceros japonicus Doderlein!
Aka kasago/赤カサゴ/red rockfish!
Kuromebaru/黒めばる/Black Japanese sea perch!
Isaki/いさき/A typical fish from Shizuoka Prefecture going by the strange English name of Chicken grunt!
Sazae/さざえ/Horned Turban!
Surume Ika/スルメイカ/Japanese Common Squid, Pacific Flying Squid!
Expensive filets of Ishidai/石鯛, Barred Knifejaw!
Botan ebi/牡丹海老/Botan Shrimps!
These are usually found in the north of Japan, but we have a smaller variety in Suruga Bay!
These come from Numazu Harbor!
The latest visit to the Shizuoka JR Station Parche supermarket proved I’m right to conduct regular checks on the fish market which is seasonal and where the local seafood arrives directly every morning for the harbors of Numazu, Kogawa, Yui, Omaezaki, Mochimune, Shimoda and many others!
Right, what was of interest that day!
“Tetsubin”, also called “Shimagatsuo”, Brama japonica Hilgendorf!
“Onagadai”, also called “hamadai”/Flame snapper/Longtailed red snapper/Onaga!
“Maaji”?”True” horse mackerel!
The “Mixed Batch of Shizuoka Fish of the DAY”!
Hirame/sole, Onikasago/Devil (red) marbled Rockish, Hira Suzuki/A local seabass variety, Kinmedai/Splendid Alfonsino, Inada/Young Japanese Amberjack, Anago/Conger eel (From Chiba Prefecture!), KurodaiJapanese black porgy, Kawahagi/Filefish, Houbou/Red Gurnard!
I’m just repeating myself, not now but always it is time to have a good look (and buy) seafood and fish at the big supermarket in Parche, Shizuoka JR Station, in Shizuoka City, especially local! And once again I had a good look yesterday as Mondays are especially busy!
I don’t know how I managed to take that picture in spite of the crowd!
Now, what did I find?
The mixed batch as usual!
All coming from the Suruga Bay, they will suddenly disappear when the izkaya cooks come early in the afternoon!
Connoisseurs always start there!
The fish and the prices (per 100 g):
Sole, Red robin, True seabream, True sand borer, Devil sand borer, Largescale blackfish, Kosyou (no English name!), Shirattai seabream, Black seabream, Turbot, Meita seabream, Karasu seabream, Black bass, Conger eel!
What are these?
Red sea slugs!
A delicacy marinated in vinegar here!
Red cuttle fish!
From Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Horse mackerels!
Also from Yui!
Splendid Alfonsino and mackerel!
The splendid Alfonsino are from Shimoda City, Izu Peninsula and the mackerel from Numazu City!
Service: Pro and very friendly Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu
After the report on the two stars of the night here is the full report of our first dinner ofthe year at Sushi Ko Restaurant in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City!
O-toshi/snack coming with the first drink was tuna sashimi (akami/lean part)!
As for the first drinks we started with Chablis, a wink at my home country, Bourgogne!
I did switch later to Sake while the Dragon took care of the wine!
First, the sashimi plate with the recommended fish of the day: Akami/Tuna lean part, kinmedai/Spledid Alfonsino and Hirame/Sole-Grouper!
Sushi Ko is not all sushi and sashimi but also some succulent cooked dishes!
Geso karaage/Deep-fried squid tentacles!
Ankimo/Japanese foie gras/Frogfish-Monkfish liver steamed in sake!
Sushi Ko’s specialty: Sushi Millefeuille!
Japan meets France: Scallops Gratin!
Hotate/Scallops sushi nigiri!
Ikura/Salmon roe sushi gunkan!
Shiroebi/White shrimps sushi gunkan!
Ika shiokara/Pickled cuttle fish for the Dragon!
A special roll not on the menu with shiso/perilla leaf, ume/pickled Japanese plum flesh, natto/fermented beans and ika/squid-cuttle fish!
Deep-fried shiroebi/white shrimp eaten whole!
And plenty of nameko mushroom miso soup to wash it all down!
SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK HOMEPAGE</strong> (in Japanese) Smoking allowed.Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)
Service: Pro and very friendly Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu
To the surprise of our neighbors (it is not on the menu!) we challenged Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん at Sushi Ko in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, to come up with a different/new millefeuille sushi!
Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん obviously likes the challenge and as long as the place is not too busy he is more than willing to comply to such requests!
Moreover he knows that photos will be taken and kept for posterity!
This time the ingredients placed between layers of sushi rice were pieces of raw ika/cuttle fish and boiled shrimps!
The toppings were pretty complicated as they included tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette, anago/conger eel, tako/octopus, leek rolls, menegi/leek sprouts and tobikko/flying fish roe!
Not to mention the dressing artistically placed around the millefeuille!
Now the naming of this millefeuille was a bit of a revenge to make him work so hard! I was already in my cups wen I made a mistake ordering sake, that is I asked for “hage tora/bald tiger”! The “s’il vous plait” is a jab at my nationality! LOL
Mind you, I had my own revenge, destroying the whole succulent edifice!
SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK HOMEPAGE</strong> (in Japanese) Smoking allowed.Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)
Service: Pro and very friendly Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu
Last night saw our first visit of the year to our favorite sushi restaurant in Shizuoka City, namely Sushi Ko Bar Restaurant located in busy Aoba Park Street, Aoi Ku!
We always start such dinners with a selection of sashimi out of the day’s recommendations!
So what did the plate consist of?
Tuna akami/lean part!
This tuna was not from Shizuoka Prefecture but still obtained at Yaizu City Fish market!
Kinmeidai/Splendid Alfonsino!
This is one of the most famous fish found in Shizuoka Prefecture people are ready to travel just to taste!
The skin being soft and tasty, the whole fish makes a superb presentation!
Hirame/sole or grouper, another fish caught in Shizuoka Prefecture!
It was cut in very thin slices you can wrap around thin scallions before dipping it in a sauce based on vinegar and momiji oroshi, grated daikon with chili pepper!
the dip!
More to come!
SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK HOMEPAGE</strong> (in Japanese) Smoking allowed.Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)
Service: Friendly and attentivr. Easy-going. Equipment & Facilities: A bit old but overall very clean. Clean washroom Prices: Reasonable~Slightly expensive Strong points: Traditional Japanese gastronomy. Great local fish and seafood. Excellent sake and shochu list. French spoken!
I wanted to eat some fresh fish for lunch for once today and I’m lucky to have a very good Japanese restaurant near work that serves excellent Japanese lunch sets for all budgets!
They are famous all over the city for their fish, particularly tuna!
This is the lunch I ordered.
Although it was bigger than most of my neighbors’ lunches it is very reasonable at 20 US $ or 15 Euros!
Now, what did it include?
Steamed rice and plenty of cold simmered hijiki seaweed!
Vegetables and seaweed salad, miso soup and Japanese pickles!
The sashimi plate!
Crab in rice vinegar, akagai/blood shellfish, aji/horse mackerel!
TOTOYA
Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Tenmacho, 8-9, Kubota Building
Tel.: 054-274-0077
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30, 17:00^22:30
Parties welcome
Small private room up to 8 guests, party room for up to 24 guests
Credit cards OK (dinner only but warn them before ordering!)
Service: Shy but attentive and kind Facilities: Traditional but very clean. Very clean washroom. Prices: Reasonable Strong points: Local fish directly from the harbor. Excellent local sake list
Senbon Ichi is a very traditional Japanese izakaya which specializes in fish as it is located in the middle of Numazu City fishing harbor, a major in Japan that Tokyo couldn’t do without!
The draft beer served there, although not by a Shizuoka Brewery, is brewed in Shizuoka Prefecture!
As the Numazu harbor has been recently completely renovated I paid it a short visit before planning a longer one for an extensive report. I still took the time to eat lunch at Senbon Ichi (which has two establishments under the generic name of Minato Ichi/湊一).
I want this poster of all the fishes caught in Japan!
At lunch time the main dining room is non smoking. Take a seat near the windows and you shouldn’t be affected by the smokers at the counter!
Great take-out deep-fried seafood available at reasonable prices, too!
Very good point in their favor: they serve no less than 14 local sake!
We decided to order the two specialties of the season and share them!
Dragon ordered the sakura ebi kakiage donburi/sushi rice top with deep-fried cherry shrimps, the specialty of Shizuoka!
A real beauty and plenty of it!
I pinched a few to eat with the beer! Great snack, I assure you!
The interesting thing is that there is a layer of grilled horse mackerel under the shrimps!
Actually Dragon was also provided with hot tea to mix it with some of her donburi for a great o-cha-zuke!
As for me, I ordered a sushi donburi topped with local fish and seafood only!
A photograph for my gastronomic collection!
Raw shirasu/sardine whiting, sardine, horse mackerel, negitoro/grated tuna!
Amberjack and a rose of tuna!
Tamagoyaki, seabream and prawn!
You will find a layer of finely chopped dry seaweed between the sushi rice and the sashimi!
So healthy!
SENBON ICHI
410-0845 Numazu City, Senbon Minato Cho, 101, 3rd and 4th F
Tel.: 055-952-0025
Fax: 055-952-0022
Opening hours: 11:30~14:30 (11:00~15:30 on week-ends and National Holidays), 17:00~21:30
Closed on Tuesdays (except on National Holidays)
Groups up to 80 OK
Credit cards OK
Free taxi service for groups of 7, 9 or 14 from and to Numazu, Katahama and Mishima JR Stations upon phone bookings!
I recently met Russell Deasley online who is the mastermind of a superior Homepage/Blog with the name of THE TOP 10…of Anything and Everything!. Not only is his Homepage immensely hilarious and instructive, but he is also kind enough to invite like-minded bloggers’ suggestions and articles for mutual help and fun!
Having lived and written about Japan for more than 30 years I thought this particular article may find a small niche among Russell’s grand collection!
1) Sushi Birthday Cake Millefeuille
Shizuoka Prefecture being the top gastronomic region of Japan I certainly do not need to travel to Tokyo to enjoy top-class sushi! In any case, all these introductions to impress your date would deplete your purse for a long time whereas you will find it cheaper to travel down here and sample them together before visiting one of the most varied Prefectures in Japan!
The above creation was inspired by the French traditional Millefeuille cake accordingly to the chef (incidentally all pictures were taken inside Shizuoka Prefecture!).
The “cake” itself is made of layers of sushi rice, red lean tuna, avocado and crispy Japanese cucumber. The sushi above includes red lean tuna, cherry shrimps, salmon, flying fish roe and crispy Japanese cucumber!
He made it for my neighbors who actually celebrated a birthday and made such a request when they saw me served with the dish below:
2) Sushi Love Flower Bouquet
The concept for the lower part is the same as for the Sushi Birthday Cake but the toppings are diferrent: on a bed of katsuo bushi/dry bonito shavings and fresh shiso/perilla leaves three flowers (roses) made of red lean tuna, raw salmon and raw hirame/sole!
3) Sushi Charlotte
The inside of this other “cake” is still of the same concept with layers of sushi rice, red lean tuna, avocado and crispy Japanese cucumber but the whole is wrapped inside thin slices of raw salmon and red lean tuna! Hard work, I can tell you! The topping is simply extravagant with ikura/salmon roe and finely chiseled crispy Japanese cucumber!
4) Sushi Rainbow Roll
No sushi dinner would be complete without at least one sushi roll!
Rainbow rolls are thick rolls wrapped around 7 ingredients representing the colors of the rainbow. Mind you, you will not find many with the blue and violet colors!
Now, this one could be called a super rainbow as it includes no less than 12 ingredients!
Guessing them out before sampling the roll is the essence of their enjoyment!
5) “Baton” sushi
This is a suggestion for a lady treating her male date!
This style of sushi in Japan is called “Bou Gata Sushi/棒形寿司/Baton Sushi”.
The chef who made it for me in Gotemba City at the foot of Mount Fuji hails from Western Japan where pressed sushi/Oshi Zushi/押し寿司 is very popular. This particular one was made with half a Aji/鯵/Horse mackerel both grilled and marinated pressed over sushi rice. A whole meal in itself!
6) Vegan Nigiri Sushi
“I can’t go to sushi, it’s all about fish!”
I don’t know how many times I heard this comment.
BUT, any sushi chef worth his salt should agree and be able to prepare sushi for vegan customers!
Shizuoka Prefecture is known all over the country for not having (officially and unofficially) the largest number of varieties of seafood, edible seaweeds but also for producing the largest number of vegetable and fruit varieties!
The possibilities are simply endless!
Nigiri sushi means small rice balled topped with whatever you fancy!
In this case: menegi/thin leek sprouts held by a band of dry seaweed, himesoba/buckwheat sprouts, fresh mitsuba/Japanese honeywort and the same plant lightly boiled in salt water and topped with ume/japanese plum pickle paste!
7) Gunkan Symphony
“Gunkan/軍艦” means “Mother ship” in Japanese.
A smaller sushi rice ball is wrapped in a band of dry seaweed wider than the height of the rice ball to enclose ingredients otherwise more difficult to prepare atop simple rice balls.
They do make for some beautiful and colorful combinations!
From top to below, right to left: uni/sea urchin, sakura ebi/cherry shrimps (to be eaten fresh only in Shizuoka Prefecture!) with grated fresh ginger, quail egg with seaweed and dry bonito shavings, shirako/whiting (cod sperm sacs) and negitoro/grated tuna and chopped scallions!
8) Ruby Pearls Sushi
This sushi is truly extravagant!
On, in and around a large gunkan, plenty and more fresh ikura/salmon roe with two small rolls (inverted) of salmon toro (fat belly part)!
A rare sight (as a combination), even in Japan!
9) Land and Sea Gunkan Sushi
This is for the health-minded sushi lovers!
On gunkan-style sushi lined with finely cut naga imo/Japanese taro a quail egg yolk and a piece of red lean tuna!
Served already seasoned with light soy sauce and ready to pop into your greedy mouth!
10) Japanese Foie Gras Gunkan Sushi
Ankimo/Frog Fish (Monk Fish) liver is prepared by steaming it in Japanese sake in the shape of a large sausage. It is kept for a while inside the refrigerator to acquire some solidity before being cut into all kinds of shapes. It is called Japanese Foie Gras because of the similar concept and texture of French Foie gras. Like foie gras it is soft, rich and utterly tasty!
The Japanese will usually serve it with momiji oroshi/grated daikon with chili pepper powder, chopped scallions and soy sauce in a plate as it is or as a gunkan in above photo.
Another must in sampling true Japanese gastronomy!
I can guarantee that your friend/lover/spouse will be overblown!
A great set for two, but don’t fight over the single items! LOL
Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!
This is unfortunately the last installment, but I will come with another theme next time!
Isetan Department Store’s display is not wide-ranging as the other other but it is nonetheless worth a visit and a long look. Be aware that their offerings go fast, so come early!
At 1,500 yen (but with a 100-yen disount!) the price seems a bit high for this one, but it includes “hon maguro/blue fin tuna”, ikura and raw salmon among pricey items. Note the menegi/leek sprouts sushi nigiri!
Two very reasonable set for 580 yen (minus a 100-yen discount):
Hirame Tsukushi/Sole (halibut, grouper) sushi nigiri
An all tuna set with sushi nigiri, grated tuna/negitoro gunkan and tekka maki!
An individual sushi set for 780 yen including tuna, flying fish roe, negitoro gunkan and cuttle fish!
Two different individual all-tuna sushi sets for 580 yen! Now, this is cheap!
The day Special sushi set!
15 sushi pieces for 1,780 yen! A whole dinner!
Including pricey items such as hon-maguro, mebachi tuna and conger eel!
What would you pay for that even in a sushi restaurant?
4 inari zushi for 210 yen! The perfect accompaniment to another set of fish or fowl for example!
All kinds of sushi rolls (2 per pack cut into 4 pieces each) from 210 yen to 420 yen! An embarrassment of choices!
kaisen donburi/Fresh seafood bowl with 7 different ingredients including tuna on a bowl of sushi rice! Only 680 yen! A whole meal!
A Shizuoka specialty: Anago donburi!
Broiled conger eel and tamagoyaki atop rice!
At 580 yen, a real bargain!
Right, that is all for sushi sets, bentos and takeouts at Shizuoka City Department Stores!
Of course if I have the opportunity to visit other Department Stores in a different city of our Prefecture I’ll be glad to report on them!
Any suggestions for the next theme based on food you could buy at Shizuoka City Department Stores?
The little red and white tag means that the wasabi is served separately!
Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!
This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the second one which is owned by the Shizutestsu Stores Chain!!
Thin rolls for all priorities, including vegetarian all 260 yen a pack!
A pack of 8 tuna nigiri sushi for 580 yen or (right) or 6 horse mackerel nigiri sushi for 398 yen. Horse mackerel is Shizuoka specialty!
A set of 10 smaller nigiri sushi for 680 yen including flying fish roe, tuna, scallops, salmon and so on!
Perfect for small appetites!
A similar set in an easy to carry bento box for 780 yen but with ikura!
Two similar sets for 780 yen including 9 nigiri sushi (with a 100 yen discount!) one with flying fish roe on cucumber, the other with negitoro/grated tuna!
A very reasonable set for 690 yen comprising 10 nigiri sushi! Note the small pack of pickled ginger!
Now this set of “Shun/旬/Seasonal seafood”, 10 of them is really good value, even in spite of the smaller toppings!
An all-salmon sushi nigiri bento for 590 yen with raw salmon, seared salon, and gunkan containing oya-ko/parent and child/ikura and small pieces of raw salmon!
For maki/rolls lovers! Extremely good value!
At 599 yen ridiculously cheap 5 gunkan sushi filled with ikura! For the Russians? LOL
The next and last stop will be at Isetan Department store!
Do not ignore the great sashimi sets either at Cenova Department Store!
Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!
This time let me take you to Cenova Department Store basement Floor where you will find not one but two supermarkets proposing sushi bentos, sets and takeouts!
Let’ visit the first one which is affiliated to the supermarket at Shizuoka JR Station Parche Department Store!
A classic set with no less than 11 varieties of sushi nigiri including the Shizuoka specialty, a big conger eel!
At 1,380 yen a bargain considering that ikura and sea urchin are also featured!
At 950 yen all seafood local coming from Numazu Harbor!
Talk about local freshness!
For the thin maki/rolls lovers at 260 yen a box!
599 yen, another ridiculously low price for ikura!
Two different donburi:
Tekkadon with tuna and scallops fro 525 yen
Maguro no Tsubu Don with pieces of tuna and sweet shrimps for 398 yen!
“Shun/旬/Seasonal no neta nigiri!
Seasonal fish only in sushi nigiri fwaturing sardine, tuna, pike mackerel, yellowtail, and bonito for 690 yen!
Another set at the same price but all sushi nigiri different including salmon, squid and scallops!
Almost the same for the same price but including negitoro/grated tuna and ikura!
For the lovers of Large (actually medium here) Maki/Roll for 299 yen and inari sushi (sushi rice inside deep-fried sweet tofu pouches for 200 yen!
Next I will take you to the second supermarket owned by the Shizutetsu Stores Chain inside Cenova Department Store!
Shirasu (steamed sardine whiting) donburu and Enroku (large rolls and inari sushi)
Due to the incredible wealth of fresh fish all year round, there is an enormous consumption of sushi at every level in Shizuoka City, from very cheap takeouts to expensive ( but certainly not as expensive as in Tokyo, qulity fro quality!) sushi restaurants.
Next time you come to Shizuoka City for a few days and are looking forward to budget sushi do visit the local department stores where you will have the surprise to discover tasty, from reasonably fresh to very fresh, and reasonably priced sushi sets, bentos and takeouts you can take beck to the hotel or into a park for instant pleasure.
Naturally I would advise the foreign (and Japanese) residents to do some homework!
As for prices count 100 yen for 1 US $ or 130 yen for 1 Euro!
As promised in Part 1 I will take you next to Matsuzakaya Department Store just across Shizuoka JR Station
As the supermarket is located in the basement you can access to it directly through the underground passageway from the station!
All all tuna set! O-toro and Chu-toro nigiri and a negi-toro (grated tuna) inn gunkan style. Note that the wasabi is separately served to suit all priorities. At 800 yen a giveaway!
A more extravagant set including O-toro and Chu-toro, salmon, clams, salmon’s roe, sea urchin and white flesh fish! Only 1,285 yen!
Among others this set features chu-toro, ama ebi/sweet shrimp, ikura/salmon’s roe and broiled conger eel! 980 yen!
Kaisen Donburi, a cheaper and full meal devised as a donburi with ingredients arranged atop sushi rice including clam, octopus, boiled prawn, tuna, squid, shredded omelet, pickled mackerel and so on. At 580 yen ridiculously cheap!
A more sophisticated set of sushi nigiri featuring Chu-toro, crab, saurel, red clam, ikura and kanpachi/amberjack or yellowtail. At 680 yen for the sushi lovers!
This particular set has obviously been designed for a couple as all ingredients come in twos!
At 1480 yen it is very cheap as it includes sea urchin, ikura and tuna!
This set called “Hagoromo”, a name found on matsubara Beach which has just become a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in the company of Mount Fuji, is perfect for a full lunch or dinner as the nigiri have been devised smaller on purpose but still featuring such ingredients as tuna, conger eel, pickled mackerel, boiled shrimp, raw salmon and so on. Only 780 yen!
“Maguo Zukushi Set”/All tuna set!
As nigiri with slices of raw tuna, gunkan containing negitoro/grated tuna and tuna sushi rolls! At 780 yen you can enjoy tuna in 3 different ways!
Another budget-like sushi set featuring a great variety of ingredients including tuna, squid, seared salmon, kampyou maki rolls and so on! Only 580 yen!
All kinds of rolls for less than 300 yen a pack!
Very reasonable and yummy set of 8 (less than 700 yen) and 4 (less than 300 yen) nigiri sushi which allow you to choose a predetermined ingredient at a reasonable price to complement your meal!
Now, if you come late in the afternoon, at about 5:30 or later you might be able to profit from bargained prices but you will have to hurry as it is a real battle to get them after office hours! 680 yen, can you beat that?
11 x nigiri sushi for 880 yen!
A truly extravagant set of 12 x nigiri sushi for 1,180 yen!
next i will take you to two different places inside Cenova Department Store, about 15 minutes walk from Shizuoka JR Station!
SHIZUOKA SUSHI & SASHIMI: The other Jewels of Japan 