Fish Evangelist Ueda Katsuhiko Singing the Praises of Seafood in Bid to Boost Consumption

The first tuna of 2025 is presented to the media prior to auction. (© Kawamoto Daigo)

Green sea urchin sells for ¥20,000 per gram, a price more valuable than gold. (© Kawamoto Daigo)

Many of the saury caught this season were small in size. (© Kawamoto Daigo)

Ikura prices have risen as domestic salmon catches dwindle. (© Kawamoto Daigo)

Saury grilled with salt, a seasonal treat that is disappearing from Japan’s dinner tables. (© Pixta)

Japanese Annual Per Capita Seafood and Meat Consumption

Staff at the seafood shop Sakanaya Marukama in the Kitakamakura neighborhood will clean and dress fish for customers. (© Nippon.com)

Ueda Katsuhiko at Sakanaya Marukama. (© Nippon.com)

Ueda Katsuhiko, chef’s knife in hand, speaks intently to his audience. (© Kawamoto Daigo)

Ueda outside Sakanaya Marukama. (© Nippon.com)

Ueda Katsuhiko cleans a locally caught fish. (© Nippon.com)