Japan’s Kochi “Half-Seared Bonito” Delights the Palate with a Bold Texture Contrast—Crispy Outside, Rare Inside

▲ The half-seared bonito, with its crispy exterior and rare interior, has its fishy smell neutralized by the fragrance of straw.

Reported and photographed by Jiang Yanting / Japan

When in Japan, how can you not try fresh sashimi? And if you can enjoy just-caught, just-grilled sashimi while overlooking the ocean, it’s nothing short of a little slice of heaven. At the Kuroshio Workshop in Nakatosa Town, Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island, you can indulge in both visual and culinary delights with this...Half-seared bonito dish, where the first bite brings the intense aroma of straw and the crispness of the skin, followed by the tender juiciness of the fish. The explosion of these two contrasting flavors leaves a deep impression.

The southwestern tip of Kochi benefits from the warm Kuroshio Current, making it one of Japan’s richest fishing grounds. The bonito caught at the Kuroshio Workshop represents one of Kochi’s most iconic seafood flavors. The peak season runs from March to November, and the most distinctive preparation involves grilling the bonito over fresh organic straw, resulting in a perfectly seared exterior and rare interior.

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The choice to use straw for grilling isn’t arbitrary. Beyond using the smoke to eliminate the bonito’s inherent fishiness, it also instantly raises the temperature to quickly crisp the surface while keeping the interior raw. This is what creates the exquisite “crispy outside, rare inside” flavor.

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This “half-seared bonito” is first grilled with fresh straw to crisp the skin, then immediately plunged into ice water to firm up the flesh. This process leaves only the rich umami of the fish, completely eliminating any sashimi-like fishiness.When served, it’s paired with onions, ginger slices, garlic, and Tosazu vinegar. The juiciness of the fish, combined with the intense aroma of straw, creates an addictive flavor that’s impossible to resist..

Kuroshio Workshop
Address: 8009-11 Kure, Nakatosa Town, Takaoka District
Phone: 0889-52-3500
Business Hours: 8:00–15:00 (Meals served 10:30–14:30)
Pricing: Daily fish prices vary