🐟 Biwa-Masu Sashimi (Sashimi (Sliced Raw Fish) of Biwa Trout)

Biwa trout, endemic species exclusively in the Lake Biwa, is fresh water fish belongs to Salmonidae. There are more than 84 kinds of fish inhabit in Shiga Prefecture, and 16 species are endemic species inhabit only in the Lake Biwa. Biwa trout likes low temperature water (below 15 Celsius) and inhabits in deep down in the lake. Therefore, it is believed that it inhabits only in the Lake Biwa because the lake meets all conditions. The size of fish is from 30cm~60cm (12 inches ~23.5 inches) and 2kg of weight for big one. The characteristics are that it's smaller compared with other Salmonidae fish and it spends whole life in fresh water without moving to the sea. It is said that fishing in the Lake Biwa started in Jyomon Era (around AD 14000 ~ AD 3~5C). They used to catch fish coming to waterways or paddy fields, but nowadays they use unique technique in the Lake Biwa called "gillnet fishing" to catch fish. The amount of catch of Biwa trout has been between 20t and 50t these years, and it hasn't distributed even in its home and becomes precious fish. Therefore, it is called "jewel of the Lake Biwa". There are many types of dishes used Biwa trout like grilled fish or simmered one. However, as Biwa trout in its season has as high-quality of fat as toro (fatty tuna) in its whole body, the locals often eat with sashimi. Biwa trout is also called "ame no io" (literally means "rain fish") because it goes upstream on heavily rainy days during its breeding season.