
The greater amberjack is also found in sushi restaurants from time to time and is translated as kanpachi.Īlso, new farming techniques have resulted in an influx of the almaco jack sushi, which is technically known as hirenaga-kanpachi in Japanese.Īccording to the Japanese External Trade Organization, there is further delineation between the different species, how they are brought to market and the names that used to market the fish:

It’s easy to see why there’s confusion among the two fish in hiramasa vs hamachi debates. This fish is known as hiramasa in Japanese. The title of “yellowtail sushi” properly belongs to hamachi’s close relative, the yellowtail amberjack. Hamachi sushi is not yellowtail, regardless of what most menus claim. It is properly translated as hamachi, although age and location can affect the name used. The most common type of amberjack sushi comes from the Japanese amberjack. The four species of amberjack fish are: Fish Species It can get confusing as the names are often used interchangeably. The are several types of fish used in sushi that are labeled hamachi sushi or amberjack sushi. Source: Wally Gobetz on Flickr What is Hamachi Sushi Exactly? Is it Yellowtail? What is hamachi fish? What is hamachi sushi? Besides deliciously sinful. And the final monkey wrench: Names can change depending on age, size, and location. To make matters worse, mistranslations are extremely common: Hamachi fish isn’t actually “yellowtail” at all. First off, there are four species of amberjack that are found at the sushi bar. Be warned, however - to get to the bottom of what hamachi sushi is, one must first establish what exactly is being served. The rich buttery flavor and smooth texture of amberjack has achieved real popularity with American sushi fans.
