【Reading】みるがい

【English Name】Geoduck

The mirugai is a bivalve classified in the genus Tresus of the family Mactridae. Its formal Japanese name is "mirukui," written in kanji as 海松食 or 水松食. It is a large species reaching a shell length of about 15 cm, and its greatest feature is the siphon greatly extended to the rear. This siphon develops to the point of protruding beyond the shell, and "miru" (sea staghorn, a relative of soft coral) sometimes attaches to its surface. The appearance of seeming to be eating miru is said to be the origin of the name.

It lives in shallow inner bays throughout Japan, dwelling buried in sandy-muddy environments such as the Seto Inland Sea, Mikawa Bay, and Tokyo Bay. According to a survey in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the existence of individuals with lifespans of over 10-15 years is presumed.

The sushi topping uses the developed siphon, enjoyed as sashimi and nigiri as well as by cooking methods such as salt-grilling. Domestic catch is on a declining trend, and it now ranks among premium ingredients. The bulk of products circulating in the market are Chinese and Korean, and as substitutes the namigai and the American geoduck (commonly "shiro-miru") are widely used. What is served as "mirugai" at conveyor-belt sushi is almost always the latter. The true mirukui is distinguished by being called "hon-miru" (true miru).