【Reading】らうすSea Urchin

【English Name】Rausu Uni (Sea Urchin)

Rausu uni is a collective term for sea urchin landed in Rausu Town, which spreads across the eastern part of the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. The two main species harvested are the short-spined sea urchin (Ezo-bafun uni) and the northern sea urchin (kita-murasaki uni). Because they grow in the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Nemuro Strait feeding on high-quality kelp, the flesh is renowned for its exceptionally pronounced sweetness.

The fishing season in Rausu runs from around January to June, and a distinctive feature is that it reaches its peak earlier than other fishing grounds on the Sea of Japan side. Ezo-bafun uni has flesh of an orange tint and a rich flavor, while kita-murasaki uni has a whitish hue and an elegant sweetness. At sushi shops, the standard style is to serve it as gunkan-maki.

Sea urchin belongs to the class Echinoidea of the phylum Echinodermata, and the part eaten is the gonads located inside the shell. Six species of edible sea urchin are widely distributed within Japan, and among Rausu-grown ones, Ezo-bafun uni in particular is highly esteemed. Because freshness above all determines its value, Rausu Fishing Port is equipped with hygiene-management facilities and holding tanks, establishing a system that allows shipment while maintaining excellent quality.