In Japan, it is customary to process sea urchins and eat them as sashimi, sushi, or sea urchin bowls.

 In season, sea urchin is packed with plenty of meat, and its rich, flavorful umami can be enjoyed to the fullest.

Sea urchin is a luxury food characterized by its melt-in-your-mouth flavor, richness, and gentle sweetness.

In Japan, shells that are thought to be sea urchins have already been excavated from Jomon-era ruins and shell middens, and it is believed that sea urchins have been eaten since ancient times.

The black body of sea urchin is covered with long thorns, while the flesh, which is generally eaten, is a bright yellow color. The sea urchin is said to be one of Japan's three most prized delicacies, and we Japanese are said to be the most sea urchin-loving people in the world.

Most sea urchins live on the surface of the seafloor, feeding mainly on seaweeds such as kelp and wakame.

Sea urchins are found on the seafloor of oceans all over the world, except in freshwater areas. About 140 species have been identified in the seas around Japan alone, and the number of species identified worldwide is approximately 870. Some of them are also poisonous. Most live on the ocean floor, but some live in shallow water, others in deep water, and so on, depending on the species.

The majority of sea urchin species have black thorns with thorns on the outside. The sea urchin's thorns serve to protect the sea urchin, and also to move it by moving its thorns, and to hold its body in place by using its thorns. The body and thorns are made of calcium carbonate.

Use of sea urchin as an ingredient

The consumption of sea urchin is said to be the highest in the world in Japan, where we live. This is how much the Japanese love sea urchins. The main types of sea urchins landed in Japan for human consumption are the Bafun urchin, the Ezo Buffalo sea urchin, and the purple sea urchin. In Japan, where sea urchin is a favorite food, the amount of sea urchin landed in Japan alone is not enough to keep up with consumption, so sea urchins imported from all over the world are distributed domestically. It is said that about 80% of the world's sea urchins caught are consumed in Japan.

The sea urchins that are landed for domestic consumption are mainly the Bafun urchin, the purple sea urchin, the Ezo Buffalo sea urchin, and the Northern sea urchin, etc. Furthermore, since domestic production is not sufficient for consumption, sea urchins are imported from all over the world, and the majority of sea urchins that Japanese people eat come from imported sources. While 90% of the sea urchins in Japan are imported, Japan is said to have the world's most advanced sea urchin cultivation technology.

Raw sea urchin is one of Japan's top three delicacies, along with "karasumi" and "konowata. It is also one of the most expensive ingredients used in Japanese cuisine and sushi restaurants.

When sea urchin is eaten in Japan, it is usually served raw, as sashimi, in sushi neta, or in a bowl of rice topped with an abundance of sea urchin.

Freshness is considered important for sea urchin, and it tastes especially good when the shell is cracked and cooked right in front of you. Even in this case, little is eaten of the sea urchin's internal digestive system and other organs. Uni can be easily opened by using a special sea urchin cracker to break the shell, but it is also possible to crack the shell with a knife. In recent years, frozen processed sea urchin has been distributed and enjoyed regardless of the season.

In Japan, sea urchins are widely found in coastal areas, including Hokkaido and the Sanriku coast of Iwate Prefecture.

The sea urchin season is from June to August.

The sea urchin is a true delicacy when it is full-fleshed and full of flavor.

In Japan, not only natural sea urchins are consumed, but also many farmed sea urchins are consumed during the closed season.

Thanks to the establishment of aquaculture technology, Japan is able to eat excellent sea urchins throughout the year.

Nutrients in Sea Urchin

Known as a premium food, sea urchin is a food that contains many nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy body.

It is a rich source of fat, vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients.

Sea urchin contains 16.0 g of protein per 100 g.

Protein is a source of energy and an essential nutrient for building muscle and skin.

Sea urchin contains 0.44 mg of vitamin B2 per 100 g.

Vitamin B2 is a vitamin that helps maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes and aids in energy metabolism.

The calories contained in sea urchin are about 120 kcal per 100 g.

One serving of sea urchin weighs approximately 10 g, so the calorie content is considered to be about 12 kcal.