🍱 Mutsugoro no Kabayaki (Broiled Mudskipper)

The Ariake Sea, in Saga Prefecture, is known for its vast tidelands, which appear during low tide, due to a wide tidal range of about 6 meters. The marine life which inhabit this area is unique and rare, and known as “maeumimon.” Symbolic of this genre of sea creatures is the mutsugoro (mudskipper), which can be found only in certain parts of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea (which is surrounded by the Kyushu mainland and the Amakusa Islands). In the Ariake Sea coastal areas, it is sometimes called "mutsu".The mutsugoro is an amphibious fish which has the ability to breathe both through its gills and its skin, and emerges from its burrow when the tides recede. Spawning season is from May to July, during which the male mutsugoros repeatedly leap high into the air in energetic displays of courtship―a sight that attracts visitors from throughout the country in hopes of capturing their feats on camera. Mudskippers are in season during the summer, between May and August, and are captured at low tide, using a traditional fishing method called “mutsukake-gyo.” “Mutsugoro no Kabayaki (broiled mutsugoro)” is a famous and delicious local cuisine, made by first lightly grilling the fish while still alive, and then cooked to a sweet and savory taste. When caught fresh, mudskippers can also be served as sashimi or served in miso soup.