Kijihata Fair (Oct. 1-31)

Also talked about at the "Nagato Fish Festival.

On Sunday, September 29, the "Nagato Fish Festival" was held at the Senzaki Fishing Port Fish Market, attracting many people with a variety of events planned, including a fresh fish sale, all-you-can-stuff fish, a tuna disassembly demonstration, and a fish-catching contest.

The "kijihata," a "phantom luxury fish," was introduced during the opening ceremony held on a special stage that day.

Also called "akamizu" or "ako," kijihata is a member of the grouper family and is caught in the Hagi, Nagato, Shimonoseki, and Shunan areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture. However, the small amount of landings nationwide is the reason why it is called a "fantastic high-end fish.

Nagato City, in cooperation with Yamaguchi Prefecture, conducts seedling releases and prohibits the catching of fish less than 30 cm in length for resource management. In addition, yellowtail grouper larger than 30 cm landed in Yamaguchi Prefecture is registered as a "Yamaguchi Prefecture-produced yellowtail grouper" under the "Yamaguchi Brand".

In order to allow more people to taste it, Nagato City, Hagi City, and Abu Town will hold "Kijihata Fair" for one month only in October. In the cities, tasting promotions will be held at Senza Kitchen, a roadside station, and special menus will be offered at restaurants.

Taste the fatty white meat

On Monday, September 30, a tasting event for the press was held at Senzaki Honmaru Restaurant in Senza Kitchen, Roadside Station. The restaurant prepared two special menus: "Sanshoku-don," a bowl of rice topped with sashimi, seared, and pickled kijihata grouper, and "Carpaccio," a dish using sashimi.

Participants who tasted the kijihata while listening to the characteristics of the fish shared their impressions, saying that the fish had a "sticky texture and elegant taste," and that "sashimi and seared fish have different tastes.

Tasting promotion at Senza Kitchen, Roadside Station (10/4)

On Friday, October 4, a tasting promotion will be held at Senza Kitchen, a roadside station.

Please take this opportunity to taste the plump and flavorful white meat.

[Date & Time] Friday, October 4, 2019, 11:00am - *ends when all tastings are gone
[Location] "Fourth Generation Large and Small" in Senza Kitchen direct sales shop at Roadside Station

Four restaurants in the city offer kijihata cuisine (by reservation only).

For the month of October only, four restaurants in the city will offer special menus featuring kijihata. See details and photos from the brochure.

Stores and contact information / Menu

1. 130 Isaji (TEL 0837-42-1130) / Kijihata nigiri gozen (3,500 yen) *Reservations must be made two days in advance.
2. Kiraku (TEL 0837-26-1235)／Kijihata Gozen (3,500 yen) *Reservations must be made by the day before.
3. Senzaki Honmaru Restaurant (tel 0837-26-2580)/Kijihata Sanshoku-don (1,680 yen), Kijihata Carpaccio (1,580 yen) *Reservations are accepted until the day before.
4. Japanese Cuisine Hanazen (TEL 0837-22-8433)／Kijihata shabu-shabu to ni kamameshi gozen (3,500 yen) *Reservations are accepted until the day before.

• Kijihata Fair" Pamphlet (PDF)

Related Links

• Notice of "Kijihata Fair" in Senzaki, Umisachi