【Reading】けがに

【English Name】Horsehair crab

The kegani (horsehair crab) is an edible crustacean belonging to the genus Erimacrus in the family Cheiragonidae, scientifically named Erimacrus isenbeckii. The hard fine hairs covering its whole body are the origin of its Japanese name ("ke" means hair). The carapace length is at most about 12 cm, with males growing a size larger than females.

Its range is broad, extending along the Sea of Japan coast and, on the Pacific side, from waters north of Ibaraki Prefecture to the seas near Alaska. Preferring sandy-muddy seabeds, it bases its main living range in the depth range of 30-200 m. It is a carnivore that actively preys on polychaetes, shellfish, and small crustaceans.

In Hokkaido the main fishing grounds shift by season, so landings effectively take place throughout the year. Spring peaks on the Sea of Okhotsk side, summer around Funka Bay, autumn moves toward Kushiro and Nemuro, and winter has the Tokachi area as the main production region. For resource management, only males over 8 cm in carapace length are permitted as catch targets, and crab-basket fishing is rooted as the main method.

What is especially prized as a sushi material is the flesh with its delicate, refined sweetness and the deeply rich crab innards (kanimiso). Although a size smaller than the zuwaigani (snow crab) and tarabagani (king crab) in physique, it is in no way inferior in richness of flavor. Enjoyed in a variety of preparations—salt-boiled, gunkan-maki, and flaked-meat nigiri—it is a marine product of which Hokkaido and northern Tohoku are proud.