Shirasu: Tiny Fish with Big Flavor and Nutrition

A shirasu fishing boat in Sagami Bay. (Courtesy Zushi municipal government)

Fresh, raw shirasu. (Courtesy Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association)

Kama-age shirasu. (Courtesy Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association)

Chirimenjako. (© Pixta)

A shoreline scene from the 1960s, with blanched shirasu spread out along the beach. (Courtesy Zushi municipal government)

A serving of shirasudon. (Courtesy Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association)

(© PhotoAC)

Jako to pīman no itame. (© PhotoAC)

Ume-shirasu on rice (left) and mixed-rice onigiri (right). (© PhotoAC)

Chirimen-sanshō from Kyoto Prefecture. (Courtesy Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries)

Delicious simply toasted until crisp. (© Adobe Stock)

Pizza cicenielli, topped with shirasu. (© PhotoAC)