Shiroshita Karei (城下かれい)

Below the ruins of a castle on Beppu Bay, fresh water seeps up through the seabed. Hiji Town in Oita Prefecture gives its local marbled flounder a name of its own: Shiroshita Karei. It is not a separate species, but a regional name shaped by place, history, and local food culture. This guide explains what the name means, what the fish tastes like, and where the castle comes in. It also covers the season, the classic dishes, the festival, and why the fish has become harder to find. TOCWhat Is Shiroshita Karei? Shiroshita Karei (城下かれい) is Hiji Town’s name for locally produced marbled flounder. Hiji sits on Beppu Bay in Oita Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. The name is especially tied to the sea below the old Hiji Castle, where fresh water rises from the seabed. Quick Facts: Shiroshita KareiJapanese name城下かれい (shiroshita karei)SpeciesMarbled flounder, Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae (makogarei)Where it comes fromHiji Town, Oita Prefecture, on Beppu BayLocal settingAssociated with the waters below the Hiji Castle ruins, where freshwater springs occur on the seabedSeasonAbout April to September; best from May to early July (local tourism association)Classic dishesSashimi, karaage, and ...