🐟 Hatahata-no-karaage (Fried Hatahata fish)

Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish), with the head and entrails removed, is deep-fried whole in oil. Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish) is an easy-to-cook fish because it has no scales and its flesh peels off easily, and it is easy to eat because it is light tasting. It is therefore a familiar fish in households in the Tajima region. In addition to fried fish, it can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, such as raw, boiled, dried, or grilled. Currently, the Tajima region of Hyogo Prefecture boasts one of the largest catches of Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish) in Japan. Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish) are migratory fish that return to their birthplace to lay eggs, so Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish) caught off the coast of the Sea of Japan are carrying eggs. When the eggs are incubating, the eggs are nourished and the fish's flesh is not nourished. However, the Hatahata (a small-sized Japanese sandfish) caught in the Tajima area are not in an egg-bearing state so they are fat and tasty.