🍲 Shappa-no-Nitsuke (Simmered Mantis Shrimp)

The mantis shrimp, a crustacean that resembles a shrimp, is found throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. It is characterized by its front legs, which have a shape similar to the claws of a mantis, and it uses these to capture and feed on small fish and shrimp. It inhabits coastal sandy and muddy areas, digging U-shaped burrows in the mud, and is also caught in the Ariake Sea. In Saga Prefecture, it is mainly called "shappa" and sometimes referred to as "ganeshappa." Although often disliked for being caught in the trawl nets for Japanese Tiger Prawn and Shiba prawn, it is considered a small fish and may be treated as such. Despite this, it has a delicious flavor similar to shrimp. It is commonly enjoyed boiled and served as sushi due to its light taste and excellent compatibility with vinegar. In Saga Prefecture, it is also prepared by boiling in salt or simmering in soy sauce. The characteristic is that a rich broth full of umami is produced during the cooking process, making it a popular summer delicacy.