Yagara Sushi
Cornetfish
What is Yagara (Cornetfish)?
The cornetfish fish is called yagara in Japan. Flute fishes (yagara-ka) belong to the order of the pipefishes and are remarkably slender, elongated carnivores. Yagara impresses not only by its unusual appearance but are also delicious as sushi or sashimi.
Yagara as Ingredient for Sushi or Sashimi
>agara has tender white meat that is perfect for making sushi or sashimi. It is also appreciated for grilled, steamed or as an addition to clear soups. The meat is firm but tender. The taste is mild and light, the meat is firmer than that of many other white-fleshed fish.
Characteristics & Ecology of Yagara (Cornetfish)
Yagara is a noticeably slim and elongated predatory fish. Its skin is from reddish to orange-brown coloration, which shows a pattern of broad cross bands at night. Young fish are spotted, with increasing age these disappear. Cornetfish fish are twilight-active, secret robbers, who stalk their prey. Thanks to their slender shape they can remain undetected long enough to then scurry forward to suck their prey into their mouth.
Gallery
![Two Yagara Sushi on a wooden plate.
Jun Seita].
Yagara, Fujifilm X-T1.
flickr.com.
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).](/static/118695c8318be46c230e99736eaab764/0aa16/aka-yagara-red-cornetfish-jun_seita-gallery.avif)
Further information on the author can be found in the section on image credits.
Video about Yagara
External video embedded from youTube.com: 99チャンネル 99chtv. 親方、ヤガラと背比べ 平戸・エビス亭 Masterchef, comparing height with a cornetfish with English subtitles
Species of Yagara
The following species are regarded as authentic. Either historically, according to the area of distribution or according to the common practice in today's gastronomy:
Japanese Name | Common Names, Scientific Name |
|---|---|
akayagara アカヤガラ 赤矢柄 | red cornetfish, rough flutemouth, serrate cornetfish Fistularia petimba family: Fistulariidae |
The following species can be considered subsitutes. Either on the basis of genetic relationship or because they are similar in taste or appearance:
Japanese Name | Common Names, Scientific Name |
|---|---|
Pacific cornetfish, deepwater cornetfish Fistularia corneta family: Fistulariidae | |
aoyagara アオヤガラ | bluespotted cornetfish, coronet, reef cornetfish Fistularia commersonii family: Fistulariidae |
madarayagara マダラヤガラ | bluespotted cornetfish, tobacco trumpetfish Fistularia tabacaria family: Fistulariidae |
References & Further Reading
- [Fujiwara, 2020]: 昌髙藤原. ぼうずコンニャクの市場魚貝類図鑑 (engl. Bozu Konyaku's Market Fish and Shellfish Book). Bozu Konnyaku Co., Ltd., Tokyo ぼうずコンニャク株式会社東京, zukan-bouz.com. 2020. https://www.zukan-bouz.com/. Retrieved online on December 27, 2021.
Image Credits
T.Tseng. Yagara (trumpet fish), Shunji Japanese Cuisine, West L.A.. flickr.com. License: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). Changes made: image quality, brightness, contrast, colour matching, sharpening, cropping.
Jun Seita]. Yagara, Fujifilm X-T1. flickr.com. License: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0). Changes made: image quality, brightness, contrast, colour matching, sharpening, cropping.