the.com/tai
The fish so associated with celebration, its name is a pun on 'auspicious.'
means Tai is the Japanese name for red sea bream, a prized fish traditionally served whole at weddings, New Year, and other celebratory occasions.
from The word 'tai' itself is just the plain Japanese name for the fish, but its festive status comes from wordplay: 'tai' echoes the middle syllables of 'medetai,' the Japanese word for 'auspicious' or 'joyous.' That phonetic kinship turned an ordinary fish into a pun-powered good-luck charm — so closely linked to celebration that no Japanese New Year or wedding feast feels complete without one staring up from the platter.
- name pun
- tai sounds like medetai, meaning joyous
- the fish
- usually red sea bream, prized and pink
- status symbol
- served whole, head-to-tail, at weddings
- mascot duty
- Ebisu the luck god always carries one