Black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii), known as "kurodai" in Japanese, is a medium-sized marine fish from the family Sparidae, widely distributed along the northwest Pacific, including the East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.

It has an oval, laterally compressed body, typically dark gray to black in color, with tough scales and strong jaws equipped with molar-like teeth for crushing shellfish and crustaceans. Adult fish can exceed 40 cm in length. Known for its cautious nature, it is considered a challenging target for anglers and is popular in sport fishing, especially in Japan.

Black sea bream has firm, moderately fatty flesh with a mild flavor, making it suitable for various Japanese preparations such as sashimi, sushi, salt-grilled, steamed, or served in miso soup. It is regarded as a high-grade white fish in Japan, especially appreciated in summer when its fat content is ideal. The species also holds significant aquaculture value and is an important commercial fish in both China and Japan.