History, meaning and kinds of fatty tuna (toro)

There are various toro, that is confusing!?

Toro which is a fatty part of tuna is very popular in Japan. The origin of toro is that it melts in one's mouse according to the sushi encyclopedia written by Yoshino Masuo (Motoo Noguchi) who was a sushi researcher. "Torori" is Japanese onomatopoeia when something melts. This part was called "Abu" before toro took root among Japanese. Abu was a shortened form of "Aburami" which means a fat.

Toro was not popular until 1950s because it is not good for preserving. The technology of freezing and transportation was developing in 1920s, and the taste of Japanese changed from 1950s. The price of toro climbed year and year from then. This price is twice more expensive than other parts of tuna.

Toro part is dividend from O-toro and Chu-toro. O-toro is most fatty part in toro part, and is the front part of stomach. Chu-toro is other part in toro part, and is the rear part of stomach. The body of tuna except toro part is called "Akami" which means red meat because toro part is reddish pink. O-toro is the champion part in tuna for Japanese. Indeed, O-toro roles the champion of Sumo called Yokozuna in the animation "Sushi Sumo".

"Kama-toro" is also in tuna, but it is not the toro part. Kama is a gill meat of tuna. Kama-toro is a meat under the gill meat. This part is as juicy as toro, Kama-toro name took root among Japanese. It is often eaten by grilling with bone because there is a thick bone near it.

There is "Negi-toro" in Japan, but it is also not the toro part. It is a tuna dish which consists paste of tuna and onion. This name was derived from "Negitoru" which means chipping off something in Japanese. This dish was often used head or tail meat of tuna. Sushi chefs chip off a meat from them. On the other hand, Kintaro-sushi which is the originator of Negi-toro says that its name derived from "Mugi-toro" which is grated Japanese yam.

By the way, there are "Toro-salmon", "Toro-katsuo" and "Ton-toro" in Japan. They are not tuna. Toro-salmon means a fatty salmon, Toro-katsuo means a fatty bonito. Ton-toro is not fish but pork. It is cheek meat of pork, and is often eaten by grilling. They have toro name because they are juicy like toro of tuna.

You can enjoy various toro dishes including sushi when you travel Japan. If you like sushi and conveyor belt sushi restaurant, you can invest it. Food and life companies (TYO:3563) and Kura Sushi Inc (TYO:2695) are listed in Tokyo Stock Exchange. If you like Japanese tuna dishes, you can invest Kyokuyo Co. (TYO:3563) which is the largest fishery company in Japan. These companies are also included some ETFs for investing Japanese companies.