【Reading】かのうがに

【English Name】Kanou Gani (Snow Crab)

Kano-gani is the brand name given to male snow crabs (zuwai-gani) landed at the various fishing ports within Ishikawa Prefecture. The name "Kano" was formed by taking one character each from the "ka" of Kaga and the "no" of Noto, and was officially decided through a public solicitation on November 1, 2006.

The snow crab (scientific name Chionoecetes opilio) is a large crab inhabiting muddy deep-sea floors; with its legs spread, a male spans about 70 cm across, and the carapace reaches a maximum width of around 14 cm. On the Sea of Japan side west of Toyama Prefecture, the fishing season for males is set by law from November 6 to March 20 of the following year each year, and combined with voluntary efforts by fishers, resource management is being put into practice.

Kano-gani crabs have a blue identification tag attached to a leg, establishing a system that serves as both a certificate of origin and a guarantee of quality. Ishikawa Prefecture's snow crab catch was recorded at 388 tons as of 2016, earning high recognition as one of the nation's leading production areas.

When served as a sushi topping, there are diverse styles such as boiled or steamed, as well as sashimi or thin slices briefly passed through hot dashi. Meanwhile, female snow crabs are affectionately called "kobako-gani" in Ishikawa Prefecture and are prized for bearing external and internal roe (sotoko and uchiko). When the fishing season opens in November, crabs begin to line the shops of Kanazawa's Omicho Market, and they are beloved as a food culture representative of the Hokuriku winter.