Gezakana

Gezakana is a Japanese term meaning “inferior fish” or “cheap fish.” Traditionally, it was used to describe fish regarded as lower in quality and therefore less expensive than higher-grade fish. In the Edo period, fish came to be classified into categories such as Gezakana (inferior fish), Chūzakana (mid-grade fish), and Jouzakana (high-grade fish). Well-known examples of fish that were once considered Gezakana, especially in the past, include mackerel and sardine, both of which are valued today for their flavor and health benefits. Although the term can still be used today, it is by no means understood as strictly as it was in the past.