Date-Maguro Chutoro, Tasted — Leaner Than Goto, Still Full of Flavor.
This week's shipment arrived Tuesday instead of Wednesday — Japan's Silver Week holiday cluster shifted the schedule. Typhoon No. 25 (Dujuan) is still sitting off Honshu's eastern shore, and heavy rain hit the Tokyo area in the past 24 hours. Between the storm and the holiday thinning the market, prices are elevated and volume is down; we don't expect real improvement before mid-next week.
This Week's Market: Typhoon Dujuan and a Thin Holiday Market
Silver Week — the run of holidays clustered around the Autumnal Equinox — closes much of Japan's market activity for several days each September, and this year it overlaps with Typhoon Dujuan parked off the eastern coast. Less trading, less fishing activity, and lingering rain around Tokyo are all pushing volume down and prices up broadly. We're watching it closely; the earliest we expect things to ease is mid-next week.
First Taste: Date-Maguro Chutoro
Keita tasted Chutoro from Date-Maguro for the first time this week, and it's good. The fat content runs a touch lighter than Chutoro from our Goto Islands Bluefin Tuna, but the flavor holds its own — and Date-Maguro is still building toward its peak, so expect it to get fattier as the months go on.
Shout-Out: Jen Dasom Anderson, Novella Wines, in “We the Wine People”
Jen Dasom Anderson of Novella Wines — one of our seven winemaker partners — is featured in the new documentary “We the Wine People,” which follows Virginia's winemakers, growers, and advocates as they turn a historic, challenging wine region into a story of land, resilience, collaboration, and American craft. It's streaming now on Apple TV and Amazon. Follow Novella Wines on Instagram.
What is Date-Maguro Chutoro, and how does it taste?
Date-Maguro Chutoro is the medium-fatty cut of Tsuji Suisan's farm-raised bluefin from Ehime's Uwakai Sea. Keita's first taste found the fat content a bit lighter than Chutoro from our Goto Islands bluefin, but the flavor doesn't fall behind — and Date-Maguro is still building toward its peak, so it will get fattier in the coming months.
Why did this week's fish arrive on Tuesday instead of Wednesday?
Japan's Silver Week holiday cluster — the run of holidays around the Autumnal Equinox — shifted our usual Wednesday shipment to Tuesday this week.
Is Typhoon Dujuan affecting Japan's seafood market?
Yes. Typhoon No. 25 (Dujuan) remains off Honshu's eastern shore, and heavy rain hit the Tokyo area in the past 24 hours. Combined with the Silver Week holiday thinning market activity, prices are elevated and volume is down — we don't expect real improvement before mid-next week.
What's in stock at Sashimi DC this week?
This week's case carries Bluefin Tuna (including Date-Maguro), Sasshu Salmon, Hokkaido Bafun Uni, Hokkaido Scallops, Kinmedai, Madai, Unagi Kabayaki, Saba, Ikura, Shiso, and fresh Wasabi.
Is there a Knife Sharpening and Sashimi Slicing Class in October?
Yes — a new date was just added for Saturday, October 3. Bring your own knife to sharpen on whetstones, then practice slicing sashimi-grade fish. Tickets are on shop.sashimidc.com; see sashimidc.com/events for all upcoming dates.
Who is Jen Dasom Anderson and what is “We the Wine People”?
Jen Dasom Anderson of Novella Wines, one of Sashimi DC's seven winemaker partners, is featured in “We the Wine People,” a documentary following Virginia's winemakers, growers, and advocates as they build a wine region defined by resilience and collaboration. It's streaming on Apple TV and Amazon.
