[For Seniors] Looks readable but you can't read it! Fish Kanji Quiz

mullet

It is said that the character 甾, which carries the meaning of “fat,” was used because mullet have a lot of fat in their bellies when they are juveniles.

loach

The fish written with the radical for “fish” plus the character 酋 is read “dojo” (loach). The character 酋 is said to mean “earthworm,” and this kanji was used because the fish likes to live in mud like an earthworm. By the way, loaches inhabit rice paddies and rivers throughout Japan, and you can catch and keep them as pets!

moray eel

“鱓” is read as utsubo. One theory about the origin of this fish’s name is that its shape resembles a “utsubo,” a quiver worn at the waist. Another theory links it to the word “utsu-hora,” meaning “hollow” or “cavity,” associating the name with the moray eel’s habit of living hidden in rock crevices.

Japanese smelt

The characters for “public fish” are read as “wakasagi.” The origin of the kanji comes from the Edo period, when the lord of the Aso Domain presented the fish to the Tokugawa family, making it an official delicacy of the shogunate. Wakasagi are small fish mainly found in lakes and rivers, and they’re popular for ice fishing in winter. With a delicate flavor, they’re delicious as tempura or in nanbanzuke (sweet-and-sour marinade).

ray

“海鷂魚” is read as “ei” (ray). Another way to write it is “鱏,” also read as “ei.” The middle character “鷂” is read “hashitaka” and refers to a kind of hawk. It’s said these characters were used because a ray’s appearance resembles a hawk, and the way it swims in the sea is similar to the way a hawk flies in the sky.

Pacific saury

“秋刀魚” is read as “sanma.” It’s written with these characters because its shape and color resemble a sword, and it’s a fish commonly caught in autumn. There’s also a theory that the name sanma evolved from samana (狭真魚), meaning “slender fish.”