Food · Fermented foods
Mirugai (Geoduck / Trough Shell)
みるがい (Mirugai)
Also known as: Mirugai, Mirukui, Geoduck, Trough shell, Tresus keenae, 海松貝, 海松食
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | みるがい |
| Common Japanese notations | みるがい, 海松貝, 海松食, ミルガイ, ミルクイ |
| Origin | Trough shell / mirugai (Tresus keenae); principal historic regions Aichi (Mikawa Bay), Mie (Ise Bay), Tokyo Bay; **wild-harvest declining sharply** — domestic mirugai is now luxury-priced category; widely supplemented by imported white-mirugai (Tresus capax / Panopea generosa imported geoduck) which is taxonomically related but distinct; **siphon (zougeshu) is the prized edible part**; iconic premium-edomae sushi topping |
| Typical functions | Premium edomae sushi nigiri — siphon is iconic top-tier topping, Sashimi luxury, Kaiseki signature shellfish, **Substitution: 'shiro-mirugai' (Panopea geoduck import) often substitutes** |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. **Origin disclosure required — native mirugai vs imported shiro-mirugai (geoduck) distinction is mandatory.** **Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** |
Mirugai (みるがい / 海松貝) — trough shell (Tresus keenae) — is Japan's iconic premium edomae sushi shellfish. **Wild-harvest sharply declining; native mirugai is luxury-priced.** Imported geoduck (Panopea generosa, 'shiro-mirugai') frequently substitutes — **origin disclosure mandatory.**
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 mirugai (luxury sushi-channel)
- Imported geoduck mirugai (general sushi-channel)
- Frozen siphon B2B (sushi-channel staple)
What it is
Tresus keenae trough shell native mirugai (vs. imported Panopea generosa geoduck).
Typical uses in Japanese products
Premium edomae sushi nigiri (siphon iconic).
Sashimi luxury.
Kaiseki signature shellfish.
For OEM: live native premium retail, imported geoduck general retail, frozen siphon B2B.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling.
**Native vs imported origin disclosure mandatory.**
**Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | **Mollusks EU-mandatory allergen.** Niche premium specialty. |
|---|---|
| USA | Mollusk allergen disclosure. **Geoduck (Panopea generosa) is major US Pacific-Northwest aquaculture export to Asia including Japan.** |
| China | Major geoduck premium-import market. |
| Korea | Premium sushi-channel import. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — みるがい
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.