Sushi for everyone. Sushi Walker is Japan's largest sushi media.

Sushwalker

Sushwalker
Sushwalker

Shako (Mantis Shrimp) Sushi

Mantis Shrimp (Shako)

Shrimp & Mantis Shrimp

寿司検定 公式サイト
しゃこ寿司

Phylum Arthropoda, Class Malacostraca, Order Stomatopoda, Family Squillidae

While mantis shrimp are arthropods like shrimp and crab, they belong to a different order: shrimp and crab with pincers are in Decapoda, while mantis shrimp are in Stomatopoda. Historically, Tokyo Bay and the Seto Inland Sea were famous production areas, but in recent years, catches from Ishikari Bay and imports from overseas have been increasing.

Mantis shrimp (shako) inhabits muddy bay bottoms and measures about 15 cm in body length. It has a hard shell, and its legs are shaped like sickles with sharp spines. While it resembles shrimp in appearance, it is an entirely different species. Major production areas for shako were once Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, Mikawa Bay, and areas around the Seto Inland Sea, but stocks have drastically declined, and in recent years, catches from Hokkaido and imports from Taiwan and China have been increasing.

It is a highly aggressive carnivore that ambushes and captures prey with a single strike. Its English name "mantis" refers to the praying mantis, as its hunting posture with its raptorial appendages resembles a mantis catching prey. Its Japanese names are equally colorful: "shakuwa-ebi" (shakunage-shrimp) because it turns the color of rhododendron when boiled, and "shaku-ebi" (tantrum shrimp) because it throws a violent fit when caught. Both its appearance and its names are uniquely entertaining.

Shako is caught year-round, with autumn to early winter being the peak season, and autumn shako fishing is also conducted in Hokkaido. The most prized are females carrying egg sacs called "katsubushi" in their abdomen, which are traded at higher prices than males from spring to early summer. While shako itself has a clean, mild flavor, females with katsubushi are rich and complex in taste, making them highly sought after.

From Humble Everyday Fare to Premium Delicacy

Shako has been eaten boiled or simmered in many production areas, and in the Kanto region it has long been known as a representative topping of Edomae sushi. In the past, it was abundantly caught in Tokyo Bay and other areas, making it a casual household food, but in recent years catches have plummeted, making it an expensive delicacy that is no longer commonly available.

Sushi toppings come in three varieties: raw, boiled, and boiled-then-peeled. Since shako's shell is very hard and difficult to peel when raw, it is typically blanched and then shelled before being made into a sushi topping. Raw shako is extremely rare and expensive. There is also a gunkan-maki (battleship roll) made with "shako-tsume" (mantis shrimp claws), where tiny pieces of muscle are painstakingly extracted from the shako's claws and collected.
Mantis shrimp swimming in a tank Mantis shrimp swimming in a tank

The Sushi Chef's Garage

The world of Edomae sushi is known for its style and wit, and even the term for a sushi chef's parking space is characteristically clever. Among sushi industry insiders, "garage" actually refers to shako (mantis shrimp) - a pun on "shako" (garage/car shed in Japanese) and "shako" (mantis shrimp). Terms used exclusively among members of a trade are called "fucho" (trade jargon), and sushi chefs pack their jargon with playful wit.

The world of Edomae sushi is known for its style and wit, and even the term for a sushi chef's parking space is characteristically clever. Among sushi industry insiders, "garage" actually refers to shako (mantis shrimp) - a pun on "shako" (garage/car shed in Japanese) and "shako" (mantis shrimp). Terms used exclusively among members of a trade are called "fucho" (trade jargon), and sushi chefs pack their jargon with playful wit.

Official Instagram Account

このカテゴリの他の図鑑

その他のカテゴリ

ホタルイカ寿司

Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid) Sushi

Firefly Squid (Hotaru-ika)

Firefly squid is a small squid that inhabits the w…

厚焼き玉子

Tamagoyaki (Japanese Omelette)

Gyoku/Tamagoyaki/Egg Sushi

There are three types of tamagoyaki served at sush…

Sayori (Halfbeak) Sushi

Sayori/Japanese Halfbeak

Sayori inhabits the inner bays and coastal waters …

カリフォルニアロール

Sushi Roll (Uramaki / Inside-Out Roll)

Uramaki/Sushi Roll/Inside-Out Roll

Among maki sushi, rolls that are thicker than hoso…

しらうお握り

Shirauo (Whitebait) Sushi

Shirauo/Icefish/Whitebait

Shirauo refers to fish of the family Salangidae, g…

ミル貝寿司

Mirugai (Geoduck Clam) SushiMirugai

Mirugai/Mirukui/Gaper Clam/Geoduck

Mirugai is a large bivalve about 15 cm in size tha…

芽ねぎ寿司

Menegi (Sprout Onion) Sushi

Menegi/Young Green Onion Sprouts

Menegi are the young sprouts of green onions harve…

数の子寿司

Kazunoko (Herring Roe) and Komochi Kombu (Herring Roe on Kelp) Sushi

Kazunoko/Komochi Kombu/Herring Roe/Herring Roe on Kelp

Both kazunoko and komochi kombu are processed prod…

トロ寿司

Maguro (Tuna) Sushi III-高級編

鮪/マグロ/Tuna

マグロの中でも特に高級とされるのがクロマグロでその次がミナミマグロ(インドマグロ)。クロマグロは太平…

新着の特集

もっと読み込む
閉じる
寿司検定 公式サイト