🍱 Yaki Moroko no Dorozu

"Hon-moroko" (=Willow gudgeon) is fresh water fish categorized to Cyprinidae Gnathopogon, and endemic to the Lake Biwa. Therefore, it is believed that it is very difficult to see "hon-moroko" out of the Lake Biwa. It is very delicious among Cyprinidae fish, and especially "komochi moroko" (willow gudgeon bearing eggs) is considered as a specialty of the Lake Biwa and very precious food. "Yaki Moroko no Dorozu" is a local dish in Shiga Prefecture eating "moroko" with dipping "dorozu" (=awase-zu (sweet and sour dressing) mixed with miso. "Hon-moroko" is selected to "Biwako Hacchin" (eight treasures in the Lake Biwa) as one of representative fish in the Lake Biwa. "Hon-moroko" is designated as critically endangered species (CR = species that are at extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the very near future). However, the technique of breeding young fish is established now, and young fish are released and bred outside of the Lake Biwa, we can still eat it. "Hon-moroko" is high-end fish delivered to Japanese traditional restaurants with high price. On the other hand, it can be caught all the year and is small, it is easy for fishing beginners and children to catch the fish, so "hon-moroko" fishing is popular as a leisure.