Tuna is more popular than salmon, according to a survey of 1,000 diners conducted by Tokyo, Japan-based sushi chain Kyotaru.
The firm’s annual survey found akami (lean tuna) and chutoro (medium-fatty tuna) tied for first in popularity with 45.8 percent of the vote each, closely followed by salmon with 44.3 percent of those surveyed saying that it was a favorite. These three neta, or sushi toppings, were head and shoulders above the other options.
Salmon had moved up to second place in the survey in 2018, but was bounced back down to the third-place spot this year. Salmon is still more popular among women, with 46.4 percent of those surveyed naming it as a favorite, but the combined figures of men and women put tuna chutoro first. Compared to the previous year, over 10 percent more men chose fatty and medium-fatty tuna, while more than 5 percent fewer women chose them.
The toppings in order of preference, nationwide, are: 1 and 2 (tied). Tuna (lean and medium fatty), 3. Salmon, 4. Negitoro (minced fatty tuna with green onion), 5. Salmon eggs, 6. Shrimp, 7. Squid, 8. Salmon belly, 9. Yellowtail, 10. Sea urchin, 11. Scallop, 12. Conger eel, 13. Engawa (edge of a flounder tail fin), 14. Sweet shrimp and 15. Fatty tuna belly.
Last year, the ranking was: 1. Tuna (medium fatty), 2. Salmon, 3. Tuna (medium fatty), 4. Yellowtail, 5. Salmon belly, 6. Negitoro (minced fatty tuna with green onion), 7. Salmon eggs, 8. Shrimp, 9. Scallop, 10. Conger eel, 11. Engawa (edge of a flounder tail fin), 12. Fatty tuna belly 13. Squid, 14. Sweet shrimp and 15. Egg.
Strong regional preferences were apparent in the survey data. Salmon, squid, conger eel, and sweet shrimp are popular in the Hokuriku and Koshinetsu regions (north and northeast Honshu Island), while shrimp are popular in Kyushu and Okinawa.
Photo courtesy of Chris Loew/SeafoodSource
