Tag Archives: Sakura shrimp

Japanese Crustacean Species 7: Sakura Shrimp-Sakura Ebi-桜海老

My favorite, sakura ebi sashimi served with grated ginger!

SWakura Ebi Portal in Yui!

“Sakura Ebi” or Sakura shrimp/桜海老 is a vey small (maximum 5 cm) crustacean mostly caught in the Suruga Bay off the shores of Shizuoka Prefecture. Most of ships are anchored in Yui, formerly a city recently merged to Shizuoka City in Shimizu Ku, and also Oigawa Harbor in Yaizu City.

Sakura ebi ships leaving Yui before dusk!

The modern technique is to catch them in a net between two ships and next to syphon them out of the net for a neat separation from other seafood.
The shrimps are displayed in special net baskets according to long traditions before they are put on the market immediately for auction.
Many fishermen open their own sushi restaurants, bars and often serve their catches of the night until early in the afternoon before taking a well-earned sleep.

For people who prefer them as sushi, the gunkan style is the most appreciated!

Most French and Italian Restaurants in Shizuoka City and around will serve them in quiches!

Another popular way to eat them is of course as a tempura called kaki-age, either with fresh sakura ebi in season or dried ones.

The same in my bento!

Fishermen use to dry their catch for sale and export until the government had the great idea to run an expressway just along the harbour!

The shrimps are now dried along nearby Fujikawa River, creating large quaint rose expanses in the most useen for locations!

Next time you visit Shizuoka don’t forget to buy sakura ebi senbei as a souvenir!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

The Pride of Shizuoka: Sakura Ebi/Cherry shrimp!

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With Spring comes the season for a specialty found in Shizuoka Prefecture only!
“Sakura Ebi” or Sakura shrimp is a vey small (maximum 5 cm) crustacean caught in the Suruga Bay of Shizuoka Prefecture. Most of ships are anchored in Yui City (part of Shizuka City city) and Fujikawa Harbours.

sakura-ebi-yui.jpg sakura-ebi-catch.jpg sakura-ebi-market.jpg
The shrimps are caught in special net baskets. They are then siphoned through special “tubes” with the baskets kept just above the water. Later all sea creatures inadvently caught in the nets are released alive back into the sea! Who said the Jpanese are not environment-conscious?
Moreover, for the first time in Japan, the Association of Cherry Shrimps Fishermen decided in 1965 to strictly limit their yearly total catch to preserve stocks. A salutary initiative long before normal citizens became aware of conservation and environment!

According to long traditions they are put on the market immediately for auction.
Many fishermen open their own sushi restaurants, bars and often their catches of the night until early in the afternoon before taking a well-earned sleep.

sakura-ebi2.jpg sakura-ebi-cuisine.jpg sakura-ebi-gunkan.jpg

For people who prefer them as sushi, the gunkan style is the most appreciated!
Most French and Italian Restaurants in Shizuoka City and around will serve them in quiches!

izutsuya6.jpg
(Pic taken at Izutsuya Restaurant, Yui)

Another popular way to eat them is of course as a tempura called kaki-age, either with fresh sakura ebi in season or frozen/dried ones.
Fishermen use to dry their catch for sale and export until the government had the great idea to run an expressway just along the harbour!
The shrimps are now dried along nearby Fujikawa River at the foot of Mount Fuji, creating large quaint rose expanses in the most useen for locations!

sakura-ebi-drying.jpg

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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日本語のブログ
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Sakura Ebi Season!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

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日本語のブログ
—————————————-

yui-sakura-kakiage.jpg

I visited Yui Harbour after interviewing Kansawagawa/Shosetsu Brewery to stop at a booth selling cooked sakura ebi/sakura shrimp just caught in the morning.
yui-harbour.jpg
Sakura Shrimps are caught twice a year and this just happens to be the Autumn catch Season.
If you have the time, go or stop there around lunch, go to the harbour (10 minutes walk from Yui JR Station, buy and eat “sakura ebi kakiage” (a kind of sakura shrimp tenpura/200 yen) with a bowl of “kisetsu miso shiru” (seasonal miso soup/100 yen).
If you are hungry ask for the sakura ebi don (a large bowl of rice topped with a generous portion of sakura ebi kakiage/600 yen).
Do not forget this is the only place in Japan you can eat them that fresh from the ocean!