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.
Yellowtail amberjack has firmer flesh than Japanese amberjack and is delicious.
Standard katakana spelling for this fish name, as is common for many fish species.
Kanji form is rarely used; the fish name is almost always written in kana.
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.