【Reading】まつばがに

【English Name】Matsuba Crab

Matsuba-gani is a local name given to fully grown male snow crab (zuwai-gani) landed in the San'in region, widely known as a winter brand crab.

Even the same snow crab is called by different names depending on the landing site: "Echizen-gani" in Fukui Prefecture, "Taiza-gani" in the Tango area of Kyoto Prefecture, and "Kano-gani" in Ishikawa Prefecture.

There are several theories about the origin of the name: that the long, slender legs resemble pine needles (matsuba); that pine needles were used as fuel when boiling it; or that the sashimi spreads into a pine-needle shape when soaked in cold water. In the Edo period, records remain of it as a gift item from the lord of the Tottori domain, suggesting it was long a famous product of San'in.

The fishing season runs from early November to around March of the following year. In Tottori Prefecture, Sakai Port, Tottori Port and Ajiro Port are the main landing sites, and high-quality individuals with a carapace width of 11 cm or more are given a brand tag. Hamasaka Port in Hyogo Prefecture is also known for a leading catch volume.

Incidentally, the standard Japanese name "matsuba-gani" refers to a different species belonging to the family Xanthidae, so the matsuba-gani handled at sushi shops is basically snow crab. As a sushi topping, in addition to nigiri and gunkan of boiled meat, kani-sashi (crab sashimi) using raw legs is also served.