Description

• Iwashi – (Sardine.) – Hiragana: いわし, Katakana: イワシ, Kanji: 鰯, 鰮.

• About this fish: A very popular, small salty-sour tasting fish which swims in massive schools! When prepared as nigiri it’s often diced or cut open with shallow cuts for presentation. Its rare to see them served at sushi bars, as these small fish are an excellent source of Omega 3’s which unfortunately also causes the fish to spoil and stink up the place pretty quick! (Its often jokingly said that Chefs are hoarding all the sardines to themselves!) Similar to Saba, Sardines have been used as a ward against demons and misfortune, especially during Setsubun (Celebrated February 3rd.) Since the Heian period, A charm called ‘Hiiragi Iwashi’ (柊鰯) which uses a leftover sardine’s head (Often cooked, sometimes the entire fish is used!) tied or impaled onto a holly branch and hung outside near the front door of a home during Setsubun. The pungent smell of sardines is said to attract Oni (Demons) who will approach for a bite; but then the holly’s prickly leaves will prick the Oni’s eyes, Ouchie!! – Similar to the setsubun bean tossing ritual, The idea is to warn the evil demons not to come to your house and to help you get your year started in the right way. – In the Heian period; these would have also been tied off & used as decoration in ‘Shimekazari’! (Shimekazari are elaborate wreaths made of Sacred Shinto Rope & decorated at New Years time with other auspicious charms: usually to invite in new years Kami; called “Toshigami.” and good luck into the home. – Hiiragi iwashi was said to be popular in the Kansai/Kyoto area until the early 1900’s; the main reason why you don’t see these put up as much these days is likely sanitary reasons & because of the smell (logically it attracts bugs & other vermin a bit more often than it does Oni! (However the custom is iconic, and so, it continues to persevere in paper-craft & in other creative ways.)

• Popculture: incidentally the pokemon “wishiwashi” is named after iwashi + “wishy-washy” which in English means to be “weak, indecisive or unsure of yourself!” a brilliant pun.