Food · Fermented foods
Ayu (Sweetfish)
あゆ (Ayu)
Also known as: Ayu, Sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis, 鮎, Tennen ayu (wild), Yoshoku ayu (farmed)
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | あゆ |
| Common Japanese notations | あゆ, 鮎, アユ, 天然鮎, 養殖鮎 |
| Origin | Sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis); native Japanese river fish; both wild (tennen ayu — premium kaiseki) and farmed (yoshoku ayu — volume retail and foodservice); principal river fishery regions Gifu Nagara-gawa (Tennen Ayu heritage), Wakayama Kumano-gawa, Tochigi, Kyushu rivers; brief summer season for wild ayu (June-September) |
| Typical functions | Shioyaki ayu (salt-grilled ayu) — defining summer kaiseki and foodservice signature, Ayu-zushi (fermented ayu sushi), Premium gift retail (Gifu Nagara-gawa Tennen Ayu), Farmed ayu — volume retail and yakiniku/izakaya supply |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Wild (tennen) vs farmed (yoshoku) disclosure essential. Fish allergen disclosure. |
Ayu (あゆ / 鮎) — sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis) — is a defining Japanese summer river fish. Both wild (tennen ayu — premium kaiseki, brief season) and farmed (volume retail) categories. Gifu Nagara-gawa is the heritage wild fishery (with established cormorant-fishing tradition). The OEM positioning includes premium kaiseki summer specialty (wild) and volume foodservice and retail (farmed).
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Fresh whole ayu (summer wild and year-round farmed)
- Frozen ayu
- Pre-grilled ayu retail (vacuum-pack)
- Ayu-zushi traditional retail
What it is
Plecoglossus altivelis sweetfish. Wild (premium) and farmed (volume) categories.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Shioyaki ayu — defining summer dish.
Ayu-zushi fermented sushi traditional.
Premium kaiseki summer specialty.
For OEM: fresh and frozen retail, pre-grilled retail, ayu-zushi production.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Wild vs farmed disclosure essential. Fish allergen recommended disclosure.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty positioning. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | Niche specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Niche specialty positioning. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of wild/farmed and origin.
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Sharing similar functions
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — あゆ 各形態
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.