Ultimate Guide to Japanese Fish and Seafood Names
Whether you’re a sushi lover, a Japanese language learner, or just a foodie interested in Japanese cuisine, understanding fish and seafood vocabulary is essential. Here’s a complete list of common fish, shellfish, and sea products used in Japan, including their kanji, romaji, English meaning, and culinary context.
🎣 Fish (魚介類 – Gyokairui)
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| 魚 | さかな | sakana | Fish |
| 鮭 | さけ / しゃけ | sake / shake | Salmon |
| 鯖 | さば | saba | Mackerel |
| 鰤 | ぶり | buri | Yellowtail |
| 鯛 | たい | tai | Sea Bream / Snapper |
| 鰹 | かつお | katsuo | Bonito |
| 秋刀魚 | さんま | sanma | Pacific Saury |
| 鰯 | いわし | iwashi | Sardine |
| 鰻 | うなぎ | unagi | Freshwater Eel |
| 穴子 | あなご | anago | Saltwater Eel (Conger) |
| 鮪 | まぐろ | maguro | Tuna |
| 中トロ | ちゅうとろ | chuutoro | Medium-Fatty Tuna |
| 大トロ | おおとろ | ootoro | Fatty Tuna |
| 平目 | ひらめ | hirame | Flounder |
| 鯵 | あじ | aji | Horse Mackerel |
| 小肌 | こはだ | kohada | Gizzard Shad |
🥚 Roe (魚卵 – Gyoran)
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| いくら | – | ikura | Salmon Roe |
| 数の子 | かずのこ | kazunoko | Herring Roe |
🦐 Shellfish & Seafood (貝類・甲殻類 – Kairui / Koukakurui)
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| 甘海老 | あまえび | amaebi | Sweet Shrimp |
| 蛸 | たこ | tako | Octopus |
| 烏賊 | いか | ika | Squid |
| 海老 | えび | ebi | Shrimp |
| 車海老 | くるまえび | kuruma ebi | Tiger Prawn |
| 伊勢海老 | いせえび | ise ebi | Spiny Lobster |
| 蛤 | はまぐり | hamaguri | Clam |
| 浅蜊 | あさり | asari | Short-neck Clam |
| 牡蠣 | かき | kaki | Oyster |
| 蜆 | しじみ | shijimi | Freshwater Clam |
| 赤貝 | あかがい | akagai | Ark Shell |
| 北寄貝 | ほっきがい | hokkigai | Surf Clam |
🐟 River & Freshwater Fish (川魚 – Kawazakana)
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| 鮎 | あゆ | ayu | Sweetfish |
| 鯉 | こい | koi | Carp |
| 鮒 | ふな | funa | Crucian Carp |
| 岩魚 | いわな | iwana | White-spotted Char |
| 山女魚 | やまめ | yamame | Landlocked Masu Trout |
🌊 Other Sea Creatures & Ingredients
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| 海月 | くらげ | kurage | Jellyfish |
| 海鼠 | なまこ | namako | Sea Cucumber |
| 海胆 | うに | uni | Sea Urchin |
| 真珠 | しんじゅ | shinju | Pearl |
| 海藻 | かいそう | kaisou | Seaweed (General) |
| 昆布 | こんぶ | konbu | Kelp |
| 若布 | わかめ | wakame | Wakame |
| もずく | – | mozuku | Mozuku Seaweed |
🍢 Processed Fish Products (加工品 – Kakouhin)
| Kanji | Hiragana / Katakana | Romaji | English |
| かまぼこ | – | kamaboko | Fish Cake |
| ちくわ | – | chikuwa | Tube-shaped Fish Cake |
| しらす | – | shirasu | Whitebait |
| 干物 | ひもの | himono | Dried Fish |
| 煮干し | にぼし | niboshi | Dried Sardines |
| なまり節 | なまりぶし | namaribushi | Lightly Dried Tuna |
| 鰹節 | かつおぶし | katsuobushi | Bonito Flakes |
| 漬け | づけ | zuke | Marinated Raw Fish |
📘 Why This Vocabulary Matters
Whether you’re navigating a Japanese menu, shopping at a fish market, or learning Japanese, knowing these terms helps you better understand and enjoy Japanese cuisine. These words are also frequently used in sushi restaurants, making them practical for both travelers and residents.
📌 Tips for Learning
- Practice with flashcards or JLPT apps
- Visit sushi restaurants and point out what you recognize
- Try cooking simple Japanese seafood dishes at home
- Combine learning with images for visual memory support
