noun
yellowtail amberjack
A species of fish (Seriola lalandi), commonly known as yellowtail amberjack. In Japanese cuisine, it is prized as a high-quality sashimi and sushi fish, similar to hamachi (young yellowtail) but larger and with a firmer texture.
市場で新鮮なヒラマサを買って、刺身にした。
I bought fresh yellowtail amberjack at the market and made sashimi.
ヒラマサはブリよりも身が締まっていて美味しい
Yellowtail amberjack has firmer flesh than Japanese amberjack and is delicious.
ブリ (Japanese amberjack) is a closely related species often compared to ヒラマサ. ヒラマサ has a more elongated body and is considered to have a firmer, slightly sweeter flesh, making it highly valued for sashimi.
ハマチ is the young stage of ブリ, while ヒラマサ is a different species. ハマチ is milder and softer; ヒラマサ is larger, firmer, and often preferred by connoisseurs.
The name ヒラマサ likely derives from 平 (hira, 'flat') and 政 (masa, possibly an old name for a type of fish). The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects the fish's somewhat flattened body shape compared to other amberjacks.