Prawn and crab
Gas shrimp (Gasu ebi)
【Nigiri sushi: Ebi/Kani】Gas shrimp (Gasu ebi) are distributed only along the Sea of Japan coast, from Hokkaido to Shimane. Gasu ebi is a common name; the formal names are Kurozako ebi and Togezako ebi. Kurozako ebi primarily inhabits muddy-sandy bottoms at depths of about 200 meters in the Sea of Japan. Its close relative, Togezako ebi, inhabits depths greater than 250 meters, so their habitats differ. Kurozako ebi is about 12 cm long, slightly smaller than Togezako ebi, and has a stockier, more robust body shape.
Gasu ebi is known as “Echizen ebi” in Fukui, but also has other names including “Doro ebi (Hyogo Prefecture, Tajima region)”, “Gara ebi (Fukui)”, ‘Tora ebi’, “Mosa ebi (Tottori)”, and “Tsuchi ebi (Kyoto)”. It was a shrimp that rarely saw the light of day because its fishing season overlapped with that of snow crab on the Sea of Japan coast, but recently it has been gradually gaining attention. Compared to Ama ebi, this species commands significantly higher prices, reflecting its growing popularity.
Gasu ebi is exceptional, offering ample sweetness and a perfectly balanced texture. However, it has the drawback of darkening very quickly over time (due to copper ions in its blood). This is likely why it was consumed only locally. While it may occasionally appear at high-end restaurants or sushi bars, it's only served on days when it's freshly available. Therefore, it's a dish you absolutely must try when visiting the Hokuriku region.
【Related contents】
List of Prawn (Ebi) and Crab (Kani)