Sanma — Pacific Saury and Its Seasonal Significance
Japan — Hokkaido and northern Pacific coast autumn migration; peak October harvest
Sanma (秋刀魚, Pacific saury, Cololabis saira) is Japan's definitive autumn fish — its kanji literally means 'autumn sword fish' (autumn + sword + fish), reflecting both its season and its elongated, blade-like shape. Sanma arrives in Japanese waters from September–October as schools migrate south from Hokkaido and the northern Pacific. It is extremely fatty at this time (natural oil content 20%+ in peak-condition fish), rich in DHA, and has a distinctive robust flavour more pronounced than most Japanese fish. The standard preparation is shioyaki (salt-grilled whole): the whole fish is salted 30 minutes before grilling, grilled over charcoal until the skin is crispy and the flesh barely translucent at the thickest point, served with grated daikon (oroshi daikon) and sudachi or kabosu. The sanma shioyaki is Japan's most universal autumn dinner — eaten in millions of homes simultaneously during the October peak season.