The Uni Harvesting Process in Hokkaido: Part 1
Growing up in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, uni harvesting was a familiar sight every summer. For many students, including myself, it was a popular part-time job during school vacations. Waking up early to help crack hundreds of sea urchins was just another task at the time. I never imagined that, 30 years later, uni would become my full-time passion. Now, I feel it’s important to share the incredible process behind preparing uni before it reaches your plate. Thanks to our friends, we experienced the entire harvesting journey, and I’m excited to break it down for you in this three-part blog series.
A New Day at Sea
As the sun rises, fishermen set out to sea, navigating their boats to the best harvesting grounds for uni. These spots aren’t chosen randomly—each fisherman relies on years of experience and instinct to identify the ideal locations. Even within the same waters, the quality of uni can vary based on ocean currents and the availability of food. The best uni comes from areas where conditions allow them to grow plump and flavorful.
Harvesting High-Quality Uni
Once at their chosen grounds, fishermen use traditional tools to extract the sea urchins with precision. The Hakomagane (a box-like viewer) helps them locate uni on the seabed, while the Kagizao (a hook-shaped rod) is used to carefully collect them.
Strict regulations govern when, where, and how uni can be harvested. Violations are treated as poaching and carry severe penalties. There are two primary methods of harvesting uni, depending on the region and its traditions:
- Kaketori (Hook and Line Method): Using the Hakomagane and Kagizao, fishermen visually identify and pull the uni from the seabed.
- Freediving: In certain areas, skilled divers don wetsuits and dive as deep as 15 meters to collect uni by hand.
The choice of method depends on various factors, such as the type of uni, seabed conditions, ocean currents, and regional traditions.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore the next stage—what happens after the uni are brought ashore!