Recommended Winter Activities: delicious winter Matsuba-gani crab cuisine on the Japan SeaMatsuba-gani Crabs
The Matsuba-gani (or pine needle crab) native to Tango Peninsula, the northwestern corner of Kyoto Prefecture, are considered to be the finest variety of that species in Japan. They can only be caught at night in the winter months (Nov.-March). The ships leave around midnight and return to the port at dawn. Matsuba-gani is exceptionally fresh because the boats are small, and not very stable, which means they can’t stay out at sea for more than one night (larger crab ships stay away for 4 or 5 days at a time). Matsuba-gani have their own special green plastic tag to distinguish them from other Japanese or imported pine needle crab . It is the mark of the finest quality. The name of the ship and where the crab was caught is written on the tag, and when people all over Japan see the tag they think of the tiny ports of Tango Peninsula.
Crab Cuisine
Crab is usually prepared in one of eight different traditional styles. 1) Yaki-gani is grilled on charcoal. The fragrance is exquisite. 2) Kora-yaki or grilled crab in the shell has a rich, exotic flavor that may not be for everyone. 3) Kani-shabu involves dipping crab legs in boiling broth for a few seconds (don’t dip too long!). 4) Steamed crab legs or mushi-yaki are juicy and smell delicious. 5) Yude-gani or crab cooked in plain water is dipped in a mixture of soy and vinegar or in kani-miso (a fine pureed sauce made of crab organs). 6) With kani-suki the crab is cooked in dashi broth first and then vegetables are added. 7) Kani-zosui or stew is basically created with kani-suki to which is added boiled rice. It is perfect for cold winter nights and mornings near the sea. 8) Kani-sashi or crab sashimi is the first class way to eat crab: fresh. A night or two on the Tango Peninsula is the best way to enjoy fresh Matsuba-gani. For more information in Japanese on Matsuba-gani and ryokan that serve it in the Tango area visit www.tangokankou.or.jp.
Kyoto Prefecture Crab Resource Conservation Policies
The overall crab catch dropped dramatically during the 1970s and 1980s due to over fishing. To keep the population stable, Kyoto Prefecture started to protect crabs by building gigantic concrete cube sanctuaries (as in the 1982 photo) where crab could breed safe from fishermen. Assisted by Kyoto Prefecture experts, other prefectures along the Japan Sea created similar sanctuaries by 1999. Today, the total protected area is about 5,600 hectares. Kyoto Prefecture is also protecting crabs in other ways with catch quotas and fishing seasons (no fishing in spring or autumn). The prefecture is convinced that delicious crabs will be around for a long, long time.
Access to the Tango Peninsula: Take the Super Express Tango Explorer from Kyoto Stn.