1.
raw sliced horse meat; horse sashimi
Thinly sliced raw horse meat, eaten with soy sauce, grated ginger, and garlic. A regional specialty of Kumamoto and parts of Nagano, and a common izakaya dish elsewhere.
馬 (horse) + 刺し, a shortening of 刺身. The same pattern gives 鳥刺し (raw chicken) and 鹿刺し (raw venison).
Common collocations
- 馬刺しを食べる: to eat basashi
- 馬刺しの盛り合わせ: an assorted plate of basashi
- 熊本名物の馬刺し: basashi, the specialty of Kumamoto
Cultural note
Horse meat is called 桜肉 ('cherry blossom meat') for its pink color, and 馬刺し is the most common way it is served. It is considered a delicacy rather than everyday food, and is usually eaten in restaurants rather than cooked at home.