Ise-Ebi

The Japanese spiny lobster, ise-ebi has a brown or reddish purple shell and smaller claws than most American and European lobsters. It grows off the Pacific coast of west Japan to about 35cm/14 in, though it also inhabits the seas around the Caribbean, Australia and Africa. Ise-ebi is traditionally used for celebratory meals because the red colour, when cooked, signifies happiness in Japan.

Lobsters have a uniquely firm, sweet flesh with a delicious flavour. Fresh ones are nearly always eaten as sashimi. At fish restaurants they are often kept in a tank and the chef makes a dish called iki-zukuri (live sashimi] from your choice of lobster in front of you. But beware, the sashimi will be arranged on the dissected shell with the head intact, its sad eyes looking at you and the tentacles still moving! It is also grilled over charcoal and eaten with citrus shoyu.