Please check Shizuoka Gourmet Blog for all the gastronomy in Shizuoka Prefecture!
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(Male Snow Crab)
Snow Crabs, or Zuwagani in Japanese are very popular not only in Japan, but also in Russia, Canada and many other countries.
In Japan, they are also known under the following names: Matsubagani, Echizengani and Yoshigani.
The females are also called Seikogani, Megani or Koubakogani.
They are caught mainly in Autumn and Winter.
Their number have decreased in the Japan seas down to a yearly catch of 5,000 tonnes while 60,000 tonnes are imported from Russia and Canada.
(Female snow Crab)
Male and female snow crabs are equally succulent, but the males contain more flesh and are accordingly more expensive.
The “thorns” of a male snow crab are bigger.
The “teeth” of a male snow crab are triangular in a seesaw shape.
The female “teeth” are in a straight line.
The underbelly of a female snow crabis flatish.
When buying a female (10 tmes as cheap) snow crab, choose a specimen with as few eggs as possible. Above speciman just has too many!
A female snow crab should contain plenty of succulent orange egg sacs (the eggs not yet “born”). Otherwise, there is very little reason to buy any!
Crabs can be eaten in many ways, even raw, but my favourites are on sushi!
Male Snow crab leg Sushi Nigiri.
Female snow crab Sushi Nigiri and its egg sacs!
SHIZUOKA SUSHI & SASHIMI: The other Jewels of Japan 