noun
lightly roasted and salted salmon (Hokkaidō specialty)
A Hokkaidō regional food product: salmon that is lightly roasted and salted, often given as a gift or used in celebratory meals.
北海道のお土産に新巻を買った。
I bought a lightly roasted and salted salmon as a souvenir from Hokkaidō.
お正月に荒巻を食べる家庭も多い。
Many households eat this Hokkaidō-style salmon during the New Year holidays.
noun
fish wrapped in bamboo leaves or straw for transport
Traditional method of wrapping fish, especially salmon, in bamboo leaves or straw for preservation and transport; now mostly a historical or regional practice.
昔は鮭を荒巻にして運んだ。
In the past, salmon was wrapped in straw for transport.
この地方では今でも荒巻の伝統が残っている。
In this region, the tradition of wrapping fish in straw still remains.
The term あらまき originally referred to the practice of wrapping fish in straw (荒巻き) for preservation. The kanji 新巻 later came to be used for the Hokkaidō specialty, possibly influenced by the idea of 'new' (新) seasonal salmon. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.