Tai – [Sushi|Foodlore]

Description

Tai. – (Red Seabream.)  – Hiragana: たい, Katakana: タイ Kanji:鯛

• About: A very popular, large, mild flavored fish with bright red skin on the outside and white flesh on the inside. Popularly known as the “Red Snapper.”  – Tai fish are considered synonymous with good luck and an abundant fishing haul, they are also said to be the favored catch of the lucky god of fishermen: Ebisu, as such they Revered as a lucky fish, so much so, that its name is even included in the word for “Auspicious”; 愛でたい (“Me-de-tai”) As such you’ll often see these fish decorating Trinkets, Lucky Charms, Toys, Festival Floats & on fishermen’s “BIG CATCH” flags (known as “Tairyō-bata” used to signal a big haul!) of course they’re also the name sake for the iconic shape of Taiyaki (Waffle Cakes, served with ice cream or Anko inside, Yum!) – Tai are iconic, served on holidays and special occasions; especially around new years celebrations; A cooked Tai fish is about as important as a Turkey is on thanksgiving across the Americas. – Tai fish also frequently appear as warriors in various tales related to the dragon kings palace!

[tai fish samurai among others. Recovering the Stolen Jewel from the Palace of the Dragon King – print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi]

see also: taiyaki

[Sticker art by @Samkalensky, Part of my Nigiri Sushi/Foodlore collections.]