Nagasaki Karasumi Dried Mullet Roe (Nagasaki): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

As a processed product it is sold year-round; the mullet used for it are caught in autumn and winter.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Nagasaki Karasumi has a glossy amber color, pure taste, and a rich flavor and aroma that is produced from fish roes.It is also closely related to the food culture of Nagasaki, as it is used in shippoku cuisine, which is a fusion of Chinese, Dutch, and Nagasaki cultures.Since the Edo period, Nagasaki Karasumi has been highly valued as one of the three finest foods in Japan, and is in high demand as a gift, a luxury souvenir, and a favorite of foodies.

Link with the production area

Nagasaki Prefecture is the birthplace of karasumi, which is made from the mullet's ovaries.In autumn and winter, a group of mullet fish with mature ovaries comes to Nagasaki Prefecture. The production process for karasumi was invented in the Edo period, and over the course of its history, including 150 years of being offered to the shoguns, a high level of producing technology was established.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s132.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)Find online (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

Some shop links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Karasumi, salted and dried mullet roe, from Nagasaki, the birthplace of this delicacy. Glossy and amber-colored, it has a clean, rich savory flavor and aroma. Prized since the Edo period as one of Japan's three great delicacies, it is also used in shippoku cuisine.

Nagasaki Karasumi Dried Mullet Roe is produced in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Nagasaki Karasumi Dried Mullet Roe is shipped all year round. As a processed product it is sold year-round; the mullet used for it are caught in autumn and winter.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Nagasaki Karasumi Dried Mullet Roe was registered as a Geographical Indication on July 20, 2023 (Registration No. 132). The registered producer group is Nagasaki Karasumi Association.