【Reading】まつばがに

【English Name】Matsuba Crab (Snow Crab)

Matsuba-gani is the regional name given to mature male snow crabs (zuwai-gani) landed in the San'in region. The main production areas are the Sea of Japan coast of Tottori Prefecture, Shimane Prefecture, the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, and the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture; the same snow crab is called "Echizen-gani" in Fukui Prefecture and "Kano-gani" in Ishikawa Prefecture, with the name differing by landing site.

There are several theories about the origin of the name, including that the shape of the long, slender legs resembles pine needles (matsuba), and that the shelled leg meat spreads out into a pine-needle shape when soaked in water.

The fishing season opens in early November each year and continues until around mid-March of the following year. The main landing ports are Tottori Port, Ajiro Port, and Sakai Port, with operations conducted in waters 300–400 m deep. In Tottori Prefecture, there is a system that attaches a brand tag to individuals with a carapace width of 11 cm or more, certifying the production area and the fishing vessel. Individuals meeting even stricter standards are awarded the title "Itsukiboshi."

Females are called "oya-gani" or "seko-gani" and have a short fishing season of November to December. Males shortly after molting are distinguished as "waka-matsuba-gani." As a sushi topping, boiled meat and gunkan-maki of crab innards (kani-miso) are standard, and the freshest ones are sometimes served as nigiri sashimi. Its elegant sweetness and delicate flesh are regarded as its hallmarks.