hamachi

Hamachi is a name that can refer to two distinct things. In Japanese cuisine, hamachi designates the young forms of yellowtail, commonly the Japanese amberjack used in sushi and sashimi. In many markets, hamachi is the name used for younger fish, while more mature fish are labeled buri; together the terms reflect a lifecycle stage and can influence texture and fat content.

Biology and aquaculture: Hamachi belongs to the Carangidae family and occurs in the western Pacific Ocean, notably around Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia. The fish are schooling predators that migrate between coastal and offshore waters. Because of strong demand in sushi, much hamachi is raised in aquaculture, with farming operations contributing to supply in Japan, Australia, the United States and other regions. Farming practices aim to manage growth, fat content, and harvest size to suit different market preferences.

Culinary uses: Hamachi meat is pale and tends to have a mild to buttery flavor with a notable fat content, contributing to a smooth texture. It is commonly served as sashimi or nigiri, but can also be grilled, broiled, or used in crudo preparations. Freshness and the level of marbling influence taste, with younger fish typically leaner and older fish more marbled.

Other uses: Hamachi is also the name of LogMeIn Hamachi, a VPN service that creates virtual private networks over the Internet, enabling remote access and peer-to-peer connections. The software emphasizes ease of use and cross-platform compatibility, allowing users to form secure networks without traditional VPN configurations.