insights from frontier Japan

Amidst plentiful akisake salmon harvesting in the Sea of Japan, north Hokkaido's Usuya area in Obira Town with its line-up of fishery-owned shops is seeing a peak in "toba" making, wherein raw salmon is hung on electric rotators in a rotation-drying process.

Salmon harvesting began in earnest for this season at the aki-sake salmon (also called shirozake salmon) harvesting facility "Indiansuisha" (Indian Water Wheel) located along Chitose River in the Hanazono area of Chitose in central Hokkaido.

The first auction of the year for sanma fish (Pacific saury) was held on the morning of August 24 at Akkeshi Market in the eastern Hokkaido town of Akkeshi. The auction was for sanma that was harvested through the main eastern Hokkaido offshore sanma catching style of stick-held dip net fishing.

The season has begun again for the herring roe flavor enhancing process of sun-drying in Rumoi City, Japan's top herring roe producer.