Shishamo
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| Shishamo | ||||||||||||||
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 Grilled shishamo.
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| Hypomesus japonicus Brevoort, 1856 |
Shishamo is a saltwater fish (smelt) about 15 centimeters in length. It is slim and resembles a willow leaf; the Japanese name, shishamo, is derived from the Ainu name for the same fish, susam, which is supposed to be derived from a compound of Ainu susu "willow" + ham "leaf", hence its name in kanji (柳葉魚:Willow Leaf Fish). It is generally dark on the back with a silver-white underside. Considered delicious and popular in Japan, it is grilled whole, often while full of eggs (ko-mochi-shishamo).
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