Urokotori

Two urokotori of slightly different sizes

A Urokotori (Japanese: 鱗取 or うろことり, literally: Scale Remover) is a utensil used in Japanese cuisine to remove the scales from the skin of fish before cooking. Alternatively, it is possible to remove the scales with a knife, but this is more difficult and there is a higher risk of cutting the skin of the fish, especially with small fishes as well as one's own hand. Often the fishmonger can scale the fishes for the customers, so this tool may not be needed. The urokotori is pulled across the skin of the fish from the tail to the head repeatedly to remove the scales.

See also: List of Japanese cooking utensils