Japanese jack mackerel
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
Japanese jack mackerel is eaten dried or as tataki.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Japanese jack mackerel
- Scientific name
- Trachurus japonicus
- Japanese name
- マアジ
- Group
- Ocean animals
- Order
- Carangiformes
- Family
- Carangidae
- Genus
- Trachurus
In Japan, the fish people call “aji” is usually this one. It travels in schools from near the shore to offshore waters.
Along each side of its body runs a line of spiny scales that hurt to touch. They are called “zengo” or “zeigo.”
It mainly eats sardines, squid, and krill. Those that settle near the shore become more yellowish than those offshore.
How the Japanese jack mackerel lives
They live in the middle and lower parts of the water.
葛西臨海水族園Basic data
- Size
- Total length: 50 cm
- Diet
- Sardines, krill, and squid
- Range
- Japanese Sea of Japan and Pacific coasts south of southern Hokkaido, East China Sea, and Korean Peninsula
Where the Japanese jack mackerel has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- マアジ
- 简体中文
- 日本竹䇲鱼
- 繁體中文
- 日本竹筴魚
- 한국어
- 전갱이
- Français
- Chinchard du Japon
- Português (Brasil)
- Carapau-de-Hokkaido
- العربية
- ماكريل الفرس الياباني
- Tiếng Việt
- Cá sòng Nhật Bản
- Русский
- Японская ставрида
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 葛西臨海水族園 — マアジChecked: 2026-11-03
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Japanese jack mackerel, look for this
- Look for the bend in the line running along the side of the body.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
葛西臨海水族園EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Japanese jack mackerel
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Carangidae
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