Hoya
A sea creature that tastes like five things
Think of it as: Like a briny oyster with a splash of grapefruit bitterness
Sea pineapple. Tastes nothing like pineapple.
What does it taste like?
Sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory all at once, with a strong ocean aroma.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureCrunchy yet plump
What is it?
A sea squirt that clings to rocks, nicknamed the sea pineapple for its knobbly orange shell. A summer favorite in Miyagi and the Sanriku coast, said to hit all five tastes at once.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Eaten as sashimi or in a vinegar salad with sake along the Sanriku coast. Best in summer.
Watch it
More videos on YouTubeWhere is it from?
🇯🇵Japan
CapitalTokyo
Populationabout 122 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesCars, Electronic components and machinery, Tourism, Anime and games
Common surnamesSato, Suzuki, TakahashiFrom national statistics and surname surveys; rankings vary by source
HelloKonnichiwa
CurrencyYen
Fun factFunazushi is the ancestor of today's nigiri sushi
The flag🇯🇵 The "Hinomaru": a red circle on white, standing for the sun.
Best timeMarch to April for cherry blossoms and October to November for fall colors are the most popular.
Also trySushiRamenTempura
More from here🍣 Funazushi🐟 Kusaya🫘 Natto🐝 Hachinoko🐛 Zazamushi🐡 Fugu no Ko Nukazuke🐴 Basashi
🇯🇵 Sounds & life in Japan
こんにちはHello（Konnichiwa）
Kanji, hiragana and katakana
Kanji, hiragana and katakana
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Anthem"Kimigayo"
MusicJ-pop Japanese pop that pairs perfectly with anime
SportBaseball
Shohei Ohtani (baseball; a two-way star pitching and hitting in the Major Leagues) World HeritageHimeji Castle and more National animalGreen pheasant (national bird) National flowerCherry blossom and chrysanthemum (unofficial) FestivalGion Matsuri (July, Kyoto)
MusicJ-pop Japanese pop that pairs perfectly with anime
SportBaseball
Shohei Ohtani (baseball; a two-way star pitching and hitting in the Major Leagues) World HeritageHimeji Castle and more National animalGreen pheasant (national bird) National flowerCherry blossom and chrysanthemum (unofficial) FestivalGion Matsuri (July, Kyoto)
Ingredients
- 2 fresh sea squirts
- 1 cucumber
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
How to make it (one way)
- Cut off the two nubs on top.
- Slit it lengthwise and drain the liquid inside.
- Peel off the shell, take out the flesh, and remove the dark parts.
- Cut the flesh into bite-size pieces.
- Toss with sliced cucumber, vinegar, soy sauce and sugar.