Japan is an island surrounded by the sea, with a wide variety of delicious seafood commonly eaten. However, it can be tricky to know what to order if you’re unfamiliar with the fish names in Japanese. To help you out, we’ve provided a list of common fish and other seafood in Japan, complete with their names in Japanese and photos.
Fish and Seafood Names in Japanese
Popular Fish
| Photo | Japanese Name | Pronunciation | English Name |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 鮪(マグロ) | Maguro | Tuna |
 | サーモン / 鮭(シャケ) | Sāmon | Salmon |
 | ハマチ / 鰤(ブリ) | Hamachi | Yellowtail |
 | カンパチ | Kanpachi | Greater amberjack |
 | 鯖(サバ) | Saba | Mackerel |
 | 鯵(アジ) | Aji | Horse mackerel |
 | 鰯(イワシ) | Iwashi | Sardine |
 | 鱈(タラ) | Tara | Cod |
 | 鰹(カツオ) | Katsuo | Bonito |
 | 秋刀魚(サンマ) | Sanma | Pacific saury |
 | 鯛(タイ) | Tai | Sea Bream |
 | 金目鯛 | Kinmedai | Golden eye snapper |
 | 鰆(サワラ) | Sawara | Spanish mackerel |
 | 鮃(ヒラメ) | Hirame | Left-eyed flounder |
 | 鰈(カレイ) | Karei | Right-eyed flounder |
 | ホッケ | Hokke | Arabesque greenling |
 | 河豚(フグ) | Fugu | Pufferfish |
 | 鰻(うなぎ) | Unagi | Eel |
 | 穴子(あなご) | Anago | Conger eel |
 | しらす | Shirasu | Whitebait |
 | たらこ | Tarako | Cod roe |
Crustaceans and Mollusc
| Photo | Japanese Name | Pronunciation | English Name |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 伊勢海老(イセエビ) | Ise ebi | Lobster |
 | 海老(エビ) | Ebi | Prawn |
 | 蟹(カニ) | Kani | Crab |
 | タコ | Tako | Octopus |
 | イカ | Ika | Squid |
 | 雲丹(ウニ) | Uni | Sea urchin |
Shellfish
| Photo | Japanese Name | Pronunciation | English Name |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 帆立(ホタテ) | Hotate | Scallop |
 | 牡蠣(カキ) | Kaki | Oyster |
 | アサリ | Asari | Clam |
 | 蛤(ハマグリ) | Hamaguri | Hard clam |
 | 蜆(シジミ) | Shijimi | Freshwater clam |
 | 鮑(アワビ) | Awabi | Abalone |
 | サザエ | Sazae | Turban shell |
Seaweed
| Photo | Japanese Name | Pronunciation | English Name |
|---|---|---|---|
 | ワカメ | Wakame | Wakame seaweed |
 | 海苔 | Nori | Nori seaweed |
 | 昆布 | Konbu | Sea kelp / Kombu |
 | ひじき | Hijiki | Hijiki seaweed |
 | もずく | Mozuku | Mozuku seaweed |
We hope this list makes it easier for you to enjoy Japan’s seafood. Have fun trying out new flavours!
