Common name: Japanese fan lobster, Flathead lobster, Slipper lobster

Japanese name: Uchiwaebi (団扇蝦、団扇海老)

Scientific name: Ibacus ciliatus (Von Siebold, 1824)

Nigiri sushi detail: Japanese fan lobster (Uchiwaebi) Nigiri sushi

Characteristics:

Japanese fan lobster (Uchiwaebi) is distributed south of Boso Peninsula in the Pacific Ocean, south of Niigata Prefecture in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, the Philippines, the South China Sea, and the east coast of Australia. It inhabits sandy muddy bottoms at depths of 50~300m. The body length is 20 cm. Its body shape is remarkably flattened. The body color is reddish black or purplish brown, and the fan-shaped portion of the tail is yellowish brown.

Because it is flattened, the edible portion is small, but it is popular because it is inexpensive and tastes better than lobsters and other species. Raw Uchiwaebi has an exceptional taste among prawns. It is sweet and has a pleasant texture. It is also recommended to eat it with citrus fruits and salt.

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