Awabi – [Sushi | FoodLore]

Description

Awabi – 鮑 – (Abalone.)

• About this fish: Awabi is the flavorful briny foot muscle of a flat snail (often served seared slightly chewy!) This snail’s mother-of-pearl-inner-coated-shell is supposedly one of the ingredients used in the Chinese elixir of life! Thus, it was highly valued in ancient China & often used in medicines. – In Japan; Free Divers (known as Ama) are famous for collecting these snails both as a food source and for their pearls! – Legends shared among the divers in Toba, Mie prefecture say that while you’re diving alone; a yokai known as the ‘Tomokazuki’ which mirrors your appearance exactly will appear and offer you an abalone shell. – Do NOT accept it because the yokai will drown you!!! – Some Ama place ‘Dōman, Seiman’ on their gear for protection: The five pointed star (Seiman) is said to be a symbol of prayer for a safe return, and the lattices (Dōman, 5 lines horizontally, 4 vertically.) are said to keep out evil spirits! – The practice is related to ancient astrological magic practised by court-hired sorcerers known as “Onmyōji!”

[Seiman, Dōman.]

[an edo period print by Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) featuring awabi, cherry blossoms and a sayori!]