Food · Fermented foods
Akagai (Ark Shell / Blood Clam)
あかがい (Akagai)
Also known as: Akagai, Ark shell, Blood clam, Anadara broughtonii, 赤貝, アカガイ
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | あかがい |
| Common Japanese notations | あかがい, 赤貝, アカガイ |
| Origin | Ark shell (Anadara broughtonii); deep-water shellfish with hemoglobin-rich blood (giving distinctive red flesh and shell-rim); principal historic regions Miyagi (Yuriage Bay — once the iconic top-tier production area, dramatically affected by 2011 tsunami), Aichi, Hiroshima, Okayama; **most retail akagai in Japan today is imported Chinese (similar species) or Korean** — domestic Yuriage akagai remains a luxury super-premium category recovering post-2011 |
| Typical functions | Premium edomae sushi nigiri — defining red-clam topping, Sashimi luxury, Akagai-himo (mantle ribbon) — separate sushi item, Kaiseki signature shellfish |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. **Origin disclosure required — native Yuriage vs imported is high-stakes label distinction.** **Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** |
Akagai (あかがい / 赤貝) is the ark shell (Anadara broughtonii) — Japan's iconic premium edomae sushi clam with hemoglobin-rich red flesh. **Yuriage Bay (Miyagi) is the iconic top-tier production area** dramatically affected by 2011 tsunami. Most retail akagai today is imported.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Live native akagai (Yuriage luxury)
- Imported akagai retail and B2B (general supply)
- Frozen shucked akagai sushi-channel B2B
What it is
Anadara broughtonii ark shell with hemoglobin-rich red flesh.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Premium edomae sushi nigiri (defining red-clam topping).
Sashimi luxury.
Akagai-himo mantle-ribbon sushi.
Kaiseki signature shellfish.
For OEM: live native Yuriage premium, imported general retail, frozen shucked B2B sushi.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. **Native Yuriage vs imported origin disclosure mandatory.** **Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | **Mollusks EU-mandatory allergen.** Niche premium. |
|---|---|
| USA | Mollusk allergen disclosure. Niche sushi-channel premium. |
| China | Native and major aquaculture origin. |
| Korea | Established as 피조개 (pi-jogae). |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Sharing similar functions
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — あかがい
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.