Practice JLPTMeaning
秋刀魚 (さんま, Sanma) is Pacific saury — a Japanese food (water animals).
What is Pacific saury?
Sanma refers to the Pacific saury ( Cololabis saira ). It is one of the most prominent seasonal foods representing autumn in Japanese cuisine. It is most commonly served salted and grilled (broiled) whole, garnished with daikon oroshi (grated daikon) and served alongside a bowl of rice and a bowl of miso soup. Other condiments may include soy sauce, lime, lemon, or other citrus juices. The intestines are bitter, but many people choose not to gut the fish, as many say its bitterness, balanced by the condiments, is part of the enjoyment. Although rarely used for sushi, sanma-zushi is a regional delicacy along parts of the Kī Peninsula. It is prepared by pickling the saury in salt and vinegar (depending on the region, bitter orange or citron vinegar may be used), and then placing it on top of vinegared rice to create the finished sushi. The kanji used in the Japanese name of the fish (秋刀魚) literally translate as "autumn katana fish", in reference to its body shape, somewhat resembling a katana, and its peak season.