shishamo
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{for|the Japanese band|Shishamo (band)}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Shishamo
| image = Grilled shishamo (6085591598).jpg
| image_caption = Grilled shishamo
| taxon = Spirinchus lanceolatus
| authority = (Hikita, 1913)
}}
{{nihongo|Shishamo|柳葉魚||literally "Willow Leaf Fish"}}, or Spirinchus lanceolatus, is an anadromous smelt native to Hokkaido, Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Spirinchus-lanceolatus.html|title=Spirinchus lanceolatus summary page|website=FishBase|language=en|access-date=2019-04-09}}
Description
Etymology
File:Shishamo by rhosoi in Hokkaido.jpg]]
The fish is said to resemble a willow leaf, and its Japanese name reflects this; shishamo, is derived from the Ainu name for the same fish, susam, which is supposed to be derived from a compound of Ainu susu "willow" + ham "leaf", hence its name in Chinese characters (柳葉魚 jukujikun, where the characters have no phonetic relation to the word).{{Cite web|publisher=地方独立行政法人北海道立総合研究機構|url=http://www.hro.or.jp/domin/magazine/post-41.html|title=第２２話 北海道にしかいない魚「シシャモ」|accessdate=2013-09-21}}{{Cite web|publisher=APNA食品図鑑|url=http://apna.cocolog-nifty.com/foodblog/2009/10/post-2cb2.html|title=アイヌ伝説 神からの贈りもの【ししゃも】|accessdate=2013-09-21}}{{Cite web|publisher=北海道むかわ町|url=http://www.town.mukawa.lg.jp/3124.htm|title=鵡川ししゃも「楊の葉に命を与えたのは神様」|accessdate=2016-02-09}}
Food use
File:Shishamo for sale in Tokyo.jpeg]]
In Japanese cuisine, this fish is grilled or fried whole and served with its roe intact.
The total 2021 catch in Kushiro, where 85% of Japanese shishamo are caught, was 124 tons - a reduction of 50% compared to the year before. Due to declining catches in recent years, attempts have been made to commercially farm the fish in Japan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/13/national/fish-expert-farming-rare-shishamo/|title=Fish expert farming rare 'shishamo'|last=Tokunaga|first=Saki|date=2014-01-13|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-04-09|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}} In recent years capelin (Mallotus villosus) has appeared on the market with the name "Karafuto shishamo." Approximately 20,000 tons are imported to Japan annually.[http://www.tokachi.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/sis/sishamomamechisiki.htm 新 ししゃも豆知識] 十勝総合振興局産業振興部水産課
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3276297}}
Category:Environment of Hokkaido
Category:Fish described in 1913
{{Japan-cuisine-stub}}
{{Osmeriformes-stub}}