Fish in the Naruto Strait: Yellowtail
Yellowtail, Japanese amberjack (Seliora quinqueradiata)
The yellowtail or Japanese amberjack (not to be confused with yellowfin tuna) is native to the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Hawaii. In Japan this fish is given different names according to age and size; there are also regional variations. Here in Tokushima Prefecture, yellowtail with a total length of under 10 centimeters are called mojako, while those weighing in at around 500 grams are known as tsubasu; from around 1 kilogram they are called hamachi; while those weighing over 6 kilograms are called buri (the latter two names may be familiar from sushi and sashimi restaurants). From summer through fall, tsubasu and hamachi migrate to the Naruto Strait, where they are caught by fishermen using rod and line. By the time they are caught, many will have grown to buri size and weight. In the Harima-Nada part of the Seto Inland Sea (north of Naruto, west of Awaji Island) cultivation of yellowtail, including sudachi-buri, is flourishing. Sudachi-buri are raised on feed containing sudachi, a small citrus fruit endemic to this region.