What is horagai in sushi?法螺貝
This time, I looked into the various names and seasons for sushi horagai.
How to call horagai
【horagai】trumpet shell ホラガイ 法螺貝
The conch shell itself is used for musical instruments and is known as a large conch shell with a total length of over 40 cm. It has many other names in various parts of Japan, including those with the word shellfish” in their names, such asAwasegai” in Mie Prefecture and Ponpougai” in Fukuoka Prefecture, as well asPoppoi”, Buongi”, andPoppoi”. There are various names such as “Sabra” that do not suggest shellfish at all.
The peak season for horagai
Conch shells are shellfish that mainly live in coral reefs, and there seems to be no clear set time when they are best eaten. However, because of its size and beautiful shape, conch shells have been used as ornaments and musical instruments since ancient times. In Japan in particular, there are records that it was used as a signal to go to war, carried by mountain priests of Shugendo, and was played to commemorate the dead.
Edible conch shellfish are mainly caught and distributed in Okinawa Prefecture. However, since the population of conch shellfish is decreasing significantly, there are many concerns, such as whether it is okay to buy what is on the market.
From the above information, we can see that the best season for conch shellfish and the best time to eat them vary depending on the region and individual species. Therefore, if you want to know specific times and methods, we recommend checking local fishing information.
