Giant Pacific octopus nigiri

Giant Pacific octopus (Mizudako)

【Nigiri sushi: Tako (Octopus)】
With catches of common octopus on the decline, the Giant Pacific octopus (Mizudako) has now become the main variety of octopus available on the domestic market. While common octopus is often sold boiled, Giant Pacific octopus is frequently sold fresh and is used for sashimi and sushi. Although it is slightly more watery than common octopus, its flesh is tender and goes particularly well with shari.

While it can be used with the skin on for nigiri, removing the skin allows the flesh to blend better with the shari. Additionally, lightly pounding the flesh with the base of a knife blade improves its texture. Many sushi chefs also find that citrus and salt pair better with it than soy sauce.

In Hokkaido, the head of the Giant Pacific octopus is also served as a sushi topping. Octopus heads are commonly sold in supermarkets and other stores. Since the meat of the Giant Pacific octopus tends not to become tough even when cooked, it is used in a wide variety of dishes in addition to sushi and sashimi, including takoyaki, oden, boiled in salted water, takoshabu, deep-fried octopus (takozangi), smoked octopus, and shiokara (salted octopus paste).

【What is Giant Pacific octopus】
The giant Pacific octopus is a large octopus widely distributed in the cold waters of the North Pacific. In Japan, it inhabits coastal areas along both the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, primarily from Hokkaido to northern Honshu. In Hokkaido, it is found from the intertidal zone to depths of around 200 meters, inhabiting rocky reefs and gravelly seabeds. It can reach a total length of over 3 meters, making it one of the largest species of octopus. The body is ovoid and slightly elongated vertically. Each of the eight arms is nearly equal in length, measuring 70 to 80 percent of the total body length, and is lined with numerous suction cups. Its body color ranges from reddish-brown to brown, and it can alter its color and skin texture in response to its surroundings and physiological state.

【Related contents】
List of Squid (Ika) and Octopus (Tako)

(Revision date: September 12, 2026)