Hamanaka Farmed Sea Urchin (Hokkaido): season, origin and where to buy

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Hamanaka Youshoku Uni is a cultured Ezobafun Uni with a dark yellow flesh color close to orange and uniform color and size.Hamanaka Youshoku Uni is sold at a higher price than natural Ezobafun Uni thanks to its production and shipping strategies that take advantage of aquaculture, in addition to its reputation in the market for its creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor without bitterness or rough taste.

Link with the production area

In the Hamanaka Town area, there is a bay where kelp grows in abundance and is not easily affected by waves, as well as quiet lakes and marshes with seawater exchange. The production area has a natural environment suitable for aquaculture and has established unique local resource recycling aquaculture technology that takes advantage of these conditions.By providing sufficient amounts of kelp, which has high feeding value, it becomes possible to produce sea urchins with uniform flesh and good taste.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s135.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)Find online (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

Ezo bafun sea urchins farmed in the bays and lagoons of Hamanaka Town, Hokkaido, and fed generously on kelp. The roe is a deep, almost orange yellow, uniform in color and size, and valued for its creamy melt-in-the-mouth texture and rich flavor without bitterness.

Hamanaka Farmed Sea Urchin is produced in Inland waters of Hamanaka Town, Hamanaka Bay and Biwase Bay, Akkeshi County, Hokkaido.

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Hamanaka Farmed Sea Urchin was registered as a Geographical Indication on July 20, 2023 (Registration No. 135). The registered producer group is Hamanaka Fishery Products Promotion Council.