Osmerus japonicus Brevoort, 1856 Hypomesus japonicus, the Japanese smelt,[2][3] is a coastal fish species of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Korean Peninsula and northern Japan to the Kuril Islands and Peter the Great Bay.

[2] Hypomesus japonicus is a marine species that enters freshwater coastal lagoons and estuaries.

[2][4] They prefer marine environments but is found near coastlines, with some populations exhibiting variations in habitat characteristics depending on specific regions.

[5] Hypomesus japonicus is distinguished from its closely related species, H. nipponensis, by several morphological characteristics.

Although both species are commonly referred to as Japanese smelt, they possess clear differences.