Common name: Chestnut octopus

Japanese name: Yanagidako (柳鮹)

Taiwan common name:－

Chinese common name:－

Korean common name:－

Scientific name: Paroctopus conispadiceus (Sasaki, 1917)

Nigiri sushi detail: Chestnut octopus (Yanagidako) Nigiri sushi

Feature:

Chestnut octopus (Yanagidako) is distributed from Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures and off Sanriku to around Hokkaido. It is found mainly at depths of 30 to 600 meters. Its body color is orange-yellow with scattered small yellow spots. The total length of the fish is around 1 meter. The season is from fall to spring. Around Hokkaido, Yanagidako is often caught as bycatch with North-pacific giant octopus (Mizudako).

Yanagidako is rarely found raw in stores. It is almost always distributed boiled at the place of origin. It tastes good but maybe a little watery, and is about the same size as a common octopus (Madako), but less flavorful and with a less distinctive aroma, making it slightly less expensive. However, some people say it is easier to eat than Ｍadako because it is more tender. In the Kanto region, it is rare to make nigiri sushi.