SEKI–AJI・SEKI–SABA / Oita City

‘Seki–aji’ (horse mackerel) and ‘Seki–saba’ (mackerel) are two leading fish brands from Oita Prefecture. Both species can be caught throughout Japan, but only those meeting quality and freshness standards are referred to by these trade names. They grow in the fast–flowing currents of the Hayasui Strait between the Saganoseki Peninsula in Oita Prefecture and the Cape Sada Peninsula in Ehime Prefecture, where they enjoy a rich supply of nutrients, giving them a unique firmness and rich flavour.

Fishermen in Saganoseki skilfully catch fish from these blessed waters using the traditional method of single–line fishing with a lure. Once caught, the fish are kept alive in a tank and carefully transported to the harbour for delivery to the local fishermen’s union. When the fish are purchased, a unique method called tsuragai is applied, in which the fish’s weight is assessed by its appearance without actually weighing it, to prevent the fish from being damaged. During shipping, the fish are thoroughly drained of blood and carefully processed using a technique called to shinkeijime maintain its freshness.