Meaning
煮干し (にぼし, Niboshi) is Dried sardines — a Japanese food (ingredients, water animals).
What is Dried sardines?
Niboshi (煮干し), often called iriko (炒り子 ) in Western Japan, are boiled and dried infant sardines. Niboshi sometimes is incorrectly translated as "anchovies". They are one of many varieties of small dried fish used throughout Asia in snacks and as seasoning for soup stocks and other foods. In Japan, niboshi dashi is one of the more common forms of dashi . It is especially popular as the base stock when making miso soup. Niboshi dashi is made by soaking niboshi in plain water. If left overnight or brought nearly to a boil, the flavor of the small sardines permeates the water and makes a popular stock.