Female Snow crab nigiri

Female Snow crab (Koubakogani)

【Nigiri sushi: Ebi/Kani】
Female snow crabs are called “Sekogani (Seikogani),” “Koubakogani,” “Oyagani,” “Koppe,” and other names depending on the region. The female snow crab’s shell contains abundant orange-colored immature eggs called “Uchiko,” a dark brown organ known as “Kanimiso” (the hepatopancreas and midgut gland), and brown granular eggs called “Sotoko” in its abdomen.

Female crabs are typically served as kouramori (a type of sashimi), with the crab meat, crab miso, inner roe, and outer roe arranged in the shell. They are also commonly used to make gunkan-maki. At some high-end sushi restaurants, the meat, crab miso, inner roe, and outer roe are mixed together and made into a ball-shaped nigiri sushi.

This type of nigiri sushi can be found throughout Japan, but it is believed to have originated in Kanazawa.

【Related contents】
List of Prawn (Ebi) and Crab (Kani)

(Revision date: September 17, 2026)