Seafood in season in May
We will introduce the fish and shellfish that will be in season in May by dividing them into the whole of Japan and the prefectures ranked at the top. Please note that the season may vary depending on the region and year depending on the landing conditions due to climate change, so please consider it as reference data only.
Table of contents
1. Fish and shellfish that are in season in May (whole Japan)
2. 1st place Miyagi prefecture (8 types)
3. 2nd place Nagasaki prefecture (7 types)
4. 3rd place Hyogo prefecture (6 types)
5. 3rd place Shimane prefecture (6 types)
6. 5th place Hokkaido (5 types)
7. 5th place Mie prefecture (5 types)
8. 5th place Fukuoka prefecture (5 types)
1. Fish and shellfish that are in season in May (whole Japan)
The number of fish and shellfish that will be in season in May is 24 out of the 87 species surveyed, which is the second lowest in a year. The following is a list of 24 types of fish and shellfish in no particular order.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, chicken grunt, sardine, bonito, flatfish, silver-stripe round herring, spanish mackerel, striped jack, whitebait, tuna, trout, black rockfish
Shellfish
turban shell, Japanese egg cockle, Japanese scallop
Other seafood
oval squid, golden cuttlefish, sea urchin, hair crab, firefly squid, common octopus, nemacystus decipiens, wakame seaweed
The prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May are Miyagi prefecture (8 types of fish and shellfish), Nagasaki prefecture (7 types), Hyogo prefecture and Shimane prefecture (6 types) , Hokkaido, Mie prefecture and Fukuoka prefecture (5 types).
2. 1st place Miyagi prefecture (8 types)
Miyagi Prefecture (8 types of fish and shellfish) ranked first in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Miyagi Prefecture became the first place for the first time.
In Miyagi prefecture, the following eight types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
conger eel, sardine, bonito, tuna
Shellfish
Japanese scallop
Other seafood
sea urchin, common octopus, wakame seaweed
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Miyagi salmon” (season: April-July) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Miyagi prefecture. We have introduced it in the previous “Seafood in season in April“.
3. 2nd place Nagasaki prefecture (7 types)
Nagasaki Prefecture (7 types of fish and shellfish) was second in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May.
In Nagasaki Prefecture, the following seven types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, chicken grunt, sardine
Shellfish
turban shell
Other seafood
sea urchin, wakame seaweed
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Japanese horse mackerel (Gon-Aji, Nomon-Aji)” (season: April-June) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Nagasaki prefecture. We have introduced it in the previous “Seafood in season in April“.
4. 3rd place Hyogo prefecture (6 types)
Hyogo Prefecture (6 types of fish and shellfish) ranked third in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Shimane Prefecture is also in third place.
In Hyogo prefecture, the following 6 types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
flatfish, whitebait
Shellfish
None
Other seafood
golden cuttlefish, firefly squid, common octopus, wakame seaweed
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Co-operative has selected “Hyogo laver” (season: December-May) for “PRIDE FISH” in winter in Hyogo Prefecture. In addition, “Firefly squid from Hamasaka” (season: March-May) have been selected for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Hyogo Prefecture.
In addition, “Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island” (season: May-November) has been selected for the summer “PRIDE FISH” in Hyogo Prefecture. “Hyogo laver” and “Firefly squid from Hamasaka” were introduced before, so I will omit the explanation this time.
“Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island” (season: May-November)
Whitebait is a fry of anchovy. When it grows up, it becomes a raw material for “iriko” used for “dashi”. Hyogo Prefecture has the highest catch of whitebait in Japan (2020). The second place is Aichi prefecture, and the third place is Shizuoka prefecture. On the other hand, the catch of anchovy is 1st in Nagasaki prefecture, 2nd in Mie prefecture, 3rd in Aichi prefecture, and 18th in Hyogo prefecture. It is interesting that the catch rankings fluctuate significantly between fry and adult fish.
“Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island” is offered only at specific tourist facilities and restaurants in Awaji Island. Therefore, you need to go to Awaji Island to eat “Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island”. I also went to Awaji Island in October 2021 and ate “Nama-Shirasu-Don (Raw whitebait rice)”. It was an exquisite whitebait with a sticky texture. From April 21st to the end of November 2022, “Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island” will be offered.
The largest landing of “Nama Shirasu (Raw whitebait) in Awaji Island” is mainly at the Iwaya fishing port in the northern part of Awaji Island.
5. 3rd place Shimane prefecture (6 types)
Shimane Prefecture (6 types of fish and shellfish) ranked third in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Hyogo Prefecture is also in third place.
In Shimane Prefecture, the following six types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
horse mackerel, conger eel, chicken grunt, flatfish, spanish mackerel
Shellfish
turban shell
Other seafood
None
“PRIDE FISH”
There were only four types of “PRIDE FISH” selected by Japan Fisheries Co-operative in one year in Shimane Prefecture. There were no applicable fish and shellfish in May.
6. 5th place Hokkaido (5 types)
Hokkaido (5 types of fish and shellfish) was ranked 5th in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Mie and Fukuoka prefectures are also in 5th place.
In Hokkaido, the following five types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
flatfish, trout
Shellfish
Japanese scallop
Other seafood
sea urchin, common octopus
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Ishikari Bay Herring” (season: January-May) , “Hidaka Ma-tsubu (whelk)” (season: April-July), “Hokkaido Toki-shirazu (summer-catch salmon)” (season: April-July) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Hokkaido. Also, in summer “PRIDE FISH”, “Alaskan pink shrimp of the Sea of Japan” (season: May-July) is selected.
We have introduced “Ishikari Bay Herring”, “Hidaka Ma-tsubu (whelk)”, and “Hokkaido Toki-shirazu (summer-catch salmon)” before, so we will omit the explanation this time.
“Alaskan pink shrimp of the Sea of Japan” (season: May-July)
The area on the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido is the largest landing amount of Alaskan pink shrimp in Japan. In particular, Haboro Town has the highest amount of Alaskan pink shrimp landed in Japan. At Musashi-tai, where you can catch a lot of Alaskan pink shrimp, you can catch a lot of fresh seafood such as scallops, sea cucumbers, octopuses, and sea urchins. Banks (Tai) are seamounts on the seabed, and the upper part is shallow water and becomes a fishing ground. Haboro Town is next to Embetsu Town, the northernmost part of rice cultivation in Japan. Both Haboro Town and Embetsu Town cultivate and ship “Oloron Rice”.
After the ban on shrimp basket fishing is lifted in March, it will be most delicious in May, when landing peaks. Males are recommended if you want to enjoy the taste itself, and females are recommended if you want to taste the eggs.
7. 5th place Mie prefecture (5 types)
Mie Prefecture (5 types of fish and shellfish) was ranked 5th in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Hokkaido and Fukuoka prefectures are also in 5th place. Mie Prefecture is in the top 5 for the first time. Mie Prefecture is in the top 5 only in May for a year.
In Mie Prefecture, the following five types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
chicken grunt, bonito, striped jack, tuna
Shellfish
turban shell
Other seafood
None
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Natural Japanese amberjack in Mie” (season: January-April)” as “PRIDE FISH” in the spring, and “Ama’s (Woman diver) Catch Abalone in Mie” (season: July-September) as “PRIDE FISH” in the summer of Mie Prefecture. However, unfortunately, there is no “PRIDE FISH” that is in season in May.
“Ama’s (Woman diver) Catch Abalone in Mie” (season: July-September)
Mie Prefecture is in the top 5 only in May, so it’s a little early, but we will explain about “Ama’s (Woman diver) Catch Abalone in Mie”. The Toba / Shima region of Mie Prefecture is a ria coast. This rias coast is a good fishing ground for abalone, which is rich in seaweed of the kelp family that feeds on abalone.
“Ama” is a woman who dives into the sea and collects shellfish and seaweed. There are 2,160 ama divers nationwide, and about half of them, 973, in Mie Prefecture (2010). The second place was Ishikawa prefecture with 197 people, and the third place was Chiba prefecture with 158 people. However, the number of ama in Mie Prefecture was 6,109 in 1949, but it has decreased to 660 in 2017 (according to a survey by the Museum of the Sea). The average dive time for abalone fishing by Ama is 30-40 seconds.
It is believed that there was skin diving abalone fishing around Toba City during the Jomon period (From about 14,000 BC to about 1,000 BC). As a concrete record, the tag of the tribute that the abalone was carried from Shima City to Heijokyo in Nara in 745 AD was found.
Since ancient times, abalone has been regarded as a lucky charm, and “Noshi abalone” has been used as an offering to the gods. “Noshi”, which is made by cutting and stretching abalone, is the root of “Noshi paper” that is wrapped around gifts.
“Toba / Shima ama fishing technique” has been designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country. In addition, the “EXPERIENCES IN JAPAN” of the Japan Tourism Bureau also introduces the experience of “Toba / Shima Ama fishing” to foreign tourists as “knowing the unique ama culture”.
8. 5th place Fukuoka prefecture (5 types)
Fukuoka Prefecture (5 types of fish and shellfish) was ranked 5th in the prefectures with the highest catches and types of fish and shellfish that are in season in May. Hokkaido and Mie prefecture are also in 5th place.
In Fukuoka Prefecture, the following five types of fish and shellfish are in season in May.
Fish
conger eel, chicken grunt, spanish mackerel
Shellfish
None
Other seafood
golden cuttlefish, common octopus
“PRIDE FISH”
Japan Fisheries Cooperatives has selected “Natural red sea bream of the Chikuzen Sea” (season: April-July) and “Membo (black scraper)” (season: April-June) for “PRIDE FISH” in the spring of Fukuoka prefecture. We introduced both of them in the previous “Seafood in season in April“, so we will omit them this time.