An Illustration of Grilled Mackerel Set Meal

An Illustration of Grilled Mackerel Set Meal (20251204) 🐟

Release: December 2025

In Japan, a teishoku refers to a set meal commonly served at restaurants for lunch and dinner. A typical teishoku includes rice, miso soup, a main dish—such as grilled mackerel—and pickles. These meals are not considered premium or celebratory cuisine; rather, they are everyday dishes designed to be affordable. Among the many types of teishoku, grilled mackerel set meals are especially popular. The fish is lightly salted, and in some cases gently dried after salting, then sourced by restaurants and grilled in their kitchens.

Historically, the mackerel used for set meals in Japan has been sourced mainly from Northern Europe, primarily Norway. The mackerel illustrated here features bold, dark striping along its back, an easily recognizable characteristic. By contrast, mackerel caught in Japanese coastal waters show finer and more irregular striping, making the difference immediately apparent.

In 2024, Japan landed approximately 256,000 metric tons of mackerel, combining chub mackerel and spotted mackerel. However, small-sized fish are mainly used for aquaculture and fisheries feed, and somewhat larger fish are processed as raw material for canned products. Together, these account for the majority of the supply, while fish large enough to be used as ingredients in home or restaurant cooking are relatively scarce. As a result, Norwegian mackerel has become the standard choice for set meals, valued for their consistent specifications, high fat content, and stable supply.

Since autumn 2025, international prices for mackerel caught in the Northeast Atlantic have risen sharply. In line with this trend, prices in the Japanese market have also increased. This is likely to have an impact on grilled mackerel set meals served at restaurants across Japan.

💡 Subject to the Usage Rights outlined below, this illustration may be used for both personal and commercial purposes.

If this illustration resonates with you, we would be grateful if you would consider acquiring it. During this trial sales period, you are welcome to choose an appropriate price.

Purpose of This Illustration

This illustration is intended to support professionals worldwide in gaining insight into Japanese seafood culture, encompassing raw materials, culinary practices, cultural events, and regional landscapes.

To achieve this objective, Minato News provides AI-enhanced illustrations that focus on:
• how raw materials imported into Japan are processed and served in retail and foodservice settings; and
• how raw materials exported from Japan are produced in their regions of origin.

About AI-Enhanced Illustration

• This illustration is an AI-enhanced, watercolor-style image created from photographs originally taken by Minato News journalists.

• If the original photographs contain price tags, labels, trademarks, or brand identifiers, such elements are removed, obscured, or replaced with non-identifiable imagery.

• When individuals appear in the source photographs, they are replaced with fictional characters or otherwise processed so that no individual can be identified.

• As this illustration is processed using AI, the sample illustration displays the label “AI-Enhanced.”

Please note that this label does not appear on the actual illustration sold.

• Dimensions: 1536 × 1024 px
• Format: JPG

© Copyright Minato News 2025

Usage Rights

You may use this illustration for any personal or commercial purpose, including but not limited to business reports, presentations, marketing materials, websites, and social media.

No attribution is required, and no additional licensing fees apply.
Modifications, edits, and combinations with other materials are permitted as necessary.

However, you may not:
• register this illustration, or any derivative thereof, as a trademark or service mark;
• use this illustration in any context that is unlawful, defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise offensive to public morals;
• display the Minato News name or logo in connection with this illustration; or
• redistribute or resell the file “as is.”

The usage rights granted above apply only to the illustration itself and do not extend to any accompanying editorial text or descriptions.