Cherry Salmon with anake sauce

Cherry salmon is of the same species of masu salmon found in mountain streams. Cherry salmon swim downstream to the sea while masu salmon live in freshwater streams throughout their lives. Upon maturity, the cherry salmon will migrate from the ocean, swim to the upper reaches of rivers to the natal river where they were born for spawning. The name Cherry salmon is said to be because of its characteristic of running upstream to spawn during cherry blossom season, or due to its pink flesh that resembles the Japanese Cherry. In the Shonai region, Cherry salmon is often served with sweet starchy soy sauce called ankake as one of the spring festival dishes during cherry blossom season around mid-April.