Pacific Saury (Sanma) Coloring Page — Free Printable for Adults & Seniors

A single Pacific saury — sanma, the fish that means autumn in Japan — drawn in one long, clean profile. The outline is simple, but the silvery blue back rewards careful shading, which makes this a calm sheet for adults and for seniors’ groups. The color sample shows the blue-and-silver of a freshly landed fish. Free PDF, no registration. (The fish’s Japanese name and our web address are printed small in the lower corner of the artwork.)

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When is sanma in season?

September and October. The fish travel south along the Pacific coast from northern waters, and by autumn they carry the most fat — which is when they taste best. The Japanese name is written with three characters meaning “autumn,” “sword” and “fish”: one look at that long, thin, blade-like body explains it.

What is sanma known for nutritionally?

It is an oily fish, so it is a good source of the omega-3 fats DHA and EPA, along with vitamin D, calcium from the soft small bones, and vitamin B12. In Japan it has a long-standing reputation as a healthy autumn food — everyday nutrition talk rather than medical advice.

How is salt-grilled sanma usually eaten?

Grilled whole with salt, then served with grated daikon radish and a squeeze of sudachi or another sharp citrus. Connoisseurs eat the bitter innards as part of the pleasure; anyone who would rather not can simply remove them. Either way, the radish and the citrus cut through the richness of the oil.