For “wakeari” (a Japanese shopping label for items sold with a stated reason) and commercial-use seafood, it is easier to decide by three points: what the shop says makes it wakeari, how much arrives at once, and whether you can take out only what you need. The candidates are smoked salmon, silver salmon fillets, a chutoro (medium-fatty tuna belly) saku block, scallop adductor muscles, amaebi (sweet shrimp), snow crab portions and mentaiko (pollock roe). If you can’t decide, start with the 3 products below and pick the closest one. The candidates are the 7 single-product articles published on Ochinity, and we confirmed on October 28, 2026 that each Rakuten Ichiba product page shows the item as on sale. The information on each product page is lined up on the same yardsticks.
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The order is not a ranking. Whether a commission is paid has no effect on how candidates were chosen or ordered.
If You Can’t Decide, Start with These 3
To use a little at a time in cooking (smoked salmon, frozen)
王子サーモン Commercial-Use Smoked Salmon Trimmings 500g
Frozen500g × 1 bagAlready smoked
The text in the image was added by the shop.
Trimmings (kiriotoshi) of smoked salmon trout arrive as 500g. The seller explains that it contains more large slices than typical trimmings.
Good to know: It arrives as one 500g bag and is not divided into smaller portions. The seller advises cutting it with a knife while half-thawed, dividing it into portions and freezing them. The best-before date is 2 years from the date of manufacture when frozen (−18°C or below). Because it counts from the date of manufacture, the remaining period when it arrives may be shorter than this. The reason it is sold as wakeari is not written on the product page. Noshi (gift wrapping label) cannot be added.
To take out only what you need, one shrimp at a time (amaebi, frozen)
Echizen Amaebi without Roe 500g, Wakeari (ますよね)
Frozen500g (about 40–50 shrimp)Head and shell on
The image is a serving example of cooked shrimp; the leafy greens and other items are not included with the product.
Amaebi without roe, with heads and shells on, arrive as 500g. The page says about 50 shrimp, and the image says 40–50. It is a small-size wakeari item.
Good to know: If you can’t eat them all at once, the page advises thawing part of the block under running water to melt the ice glaze on the surface so the shrimp come apart one by one, taking out only what you need and keeping the rest frozen. It also advises not refreezing them once fully thawed. The best-before date is within 1 month when frozen (1 week recommended). No guidance on whether they may be eaten without cooking, and no reason for the wakeari label, were found on the product page. The Amazon item has different specifications.
*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (the Amazon listing is 500g without roe (about 40–50 shrimp) and does not say small size or wakeari; the Rakuten Ichiba item is a small-size wakeari item). The amount and contents in this article are based on the Rakuten Ichiba item. Please check the details on the Amazon product page before purchasing.
To stock up on 1kg of mentaiko at once (mentaiko, frozen)
魚耕 Wakeari Karashi Mentaiko 1kg (Kireko and Barako)
Frozen1kgChoice of packing
The text in the image was added by the shop.
Karashi mentaiko (chili-seasoned pollock roe) in kireko (pieces that have broken apart) and barako (loose roe) arrives as 1kg. For packing, you choose between “まとめて梱包可（簡易包装）” (packed together, simple wrapping) and “個別梱包” (packed individually).
Good to know: The best-before period is shown as 90 days recommended when frozen, and 4 days after thawing. No thawing method was found in the product description. The reason it is sold as wakeari is not written on the Rakuten Ichiba product page. The same shop’s Yahoo! Shopping page has a heading explaining that the items are out-of-standard pieces or pieces that are only broken in appearance. Noshi support is indicated.
Before it arrivesAll 7 products are kept frozen. For the 1kg products (silver salmon, scallop adductor muscles, snow crab and mentaiko), it helps to check the free space in your freezer first.
Quick Comparison of 7 Products
Shaded rows are the 3 products above. Details on ingredients and noshi are in the single-product articles linked from each product name. Within each type, products are listed in the Japanese syllabary (gojūon) order of the product name. Servings are the shop’s wording.
| Product | Amount / servings | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Fish (smoked, fillets, saku block) | ||
| 王子サーモン Commercial-Use Smoked Salmon Trimmings 500g | 500g (1 bag). Number of servings not stated | Already smoked. The seller describes it as a product to thaw and eat as it is. The seller advises cutting it while half-thawed and freezing it in portions. Noshi cannot be added |
| Silver Salmon Fillets, Commercial Use, 1kg (甲羅組) | 1kg (each fillet frozen individually). Number of fillets not shown | Choose salted or unsalted, and bone-in or boneless. The wakeari reason is described as bruising, uneven shapes and color loss. Described as for home use rather than as a gift |
| Farmed Bluefin Tuna Chutoro Saku 500g, Wakeari (カネトモ) | About 500g. 5–6 servings is the shop’s wording | The wakeari details are irregular shapes, cracks, chips, sinew (suji), blood clots and so on. Frozen, 7 days from the shipping date; on the day of thawing once thawed. Described as not suitable as a gift |
| Shellfish, shrimp and crab | ||
| Echizen Amaebi without Roe 500g, Wakeari (ますよね) | 500g (about 40–50 shrimp). 2–4 servings is the wording in the product name | Small size, with heads and shells on. The page says thawing part under running water lets the shrimp come apart one by one. Noshi support indicated (not available with “あす楽” (Asuraku, Rakuten’s next-day delivery)) |
| Hokkaido Wakeari Scallop Adductor Muscles 1kg (甲羅組) | 1kg. Number of pieces and servings not stated | Described as quick-frozen one piece at a time. The wakeari reason is cracks, chips, uneven shapes and uneven sizes. Noshi described as available |
| Wakeari Snow Crab Kani-Shabu Portions (釜庄) | 1kg gross (800g net), or 500g gross × 2 packs. 2 or 3 bags can also be chosen | Shelled crab meat frozen without being cooked. Described as shipping items with 60 days or more left, counting the shipping date |
| Fish roe | ||
| 魚耕 Wakeari Karashi Mentaiko 1kg (Kireko and Barako) | 1kg only. Number of servings not stated | Choose packed together or packed individually. Frozen, 90 days recommended; 4 days after thawing. Noshi support indicated |
The information date of each single-product article is stated in that article / Checked that the single-product articles are published and that Rakuten Ichiba shows the items as on sale: October 28, 2026.
How to Choose Without Regrets
1. Check the wakeari reason in the shop’s listing
- A reason is given: scallop adductor muscles (wakeari because of appearance, such as cracks, chips, uneven shapes and uneven sizes), silver salmon (bruising, uneven shapes and color loss that occurred when the fillets were processed) and chutoro (irregular shapes, cracks, chips, sinew, blood clots and so on).
- No reason found on the Rakuten Ichiba product page: smoked salmon (the product name includes the words “訳あり” (wakeari) and “アウトレット” (outlet)), amaebi (small size) and mentaiko (the same shop’s Yahoo! Shopping page has a heading explaining that the items are out-of-standard pieces or pieces that are only broken in appearance).
- The reason is not summarized in our single-product article: snow crab (please check what makes it wakeari in the description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page).
What makes an item wakeari differs by product. Checking first whether it is about shape and appearance or about size makes it less likely you will be puzzled when it arrives.Source: the “Wakeari reason” and “Wakeari details” rows of each single-product article
2. Check the amount and whether you can take out only what you need
- Frozen one piece or one fillet at a time: scallop adductor muscles (1kg; described as quick-frozen one piece at a time) and silver salmon (1kg; each fillet frozen individually).
- Can be separated by how you thaw it: amaebi (500g; the page says melting the ice glaze on the surface under running water lets the shrimp come apart one by one).
- You can choose the bag or packing unit: snow crab (one bag of 1kg gross, or 500g × 2 packs) and mentaiko (1kg; choose packed together or packed individually).
- You divide it yourself after it arrives: smoked salmon (one 500g bag; the seller advises cutting it while half-thawed and freezing it in portions) and chutoro (a saku block of about 500g; the shop’s wording is 5–6 servings).
All 7 products arrive in units of 500g to 1kg. If you can’t use it all at once, it is easier to start with products frozen one piece or one fillet at a time, or products whose bag size you can choose.Source: the “Contents,” “Options” and “Thawing method” rows of each single-product article
3. Check the shelf life and thawing
- Labeled as keeping for a relatively long time frozen: smoked salmon (2 years from the date of manufacture), mentaiko (90 days recommended; 4 days after thawing) and snow crab (items with 60 days or more left, counting the shipping date, are shipped).
- About 1 month frozen: scallop adductor muscles (1 month; within the same day in the refrigerator after thawing), silver salmon (1 month) and amaebi (1 month, within 1 week recommended; within 1 day refrigerated).
- Use soon after it arrives: chutoro (7 days from the shipping date in the freezer; on the day of thawing once thawed).
The starting date of the shelf life (date of manufacture or shipping date) differs by product. Don’t compare by the numbers alone; check the label on the item when it arrives.Source: the “Storage method” and “Best-before date” rows of each single-product article
4. Check how to eat it in the shop’s guidance
- The seller gives guidance on how to eat it: smoked salmon (already smoked and described as a product to thaw and eat as it is; the seller notes that very rarely small bones may remain), scallop adductor muscles (described by the shop as adductor muscles labeled “刺身用” (for sashimi); also described as usable in stir-fries, simmered dishes and deep-fried dishes) and silver salmon (the seller advises grilling or baking it in an oven after thawing).
- There is a label, but no guidance text on how to eat it was found: chutoro (the shop’s catchphrase mentions “刺身用” (for sashimi)) and snow crab (frozen without being cooked).
- No guidance found on whether it can be eaten without cooking: amaebi and mentaiko.
Whether to eat it without cooking should be checked against the seller’s guidance and the label on the item when it arrives.Source: the “State / how to eat (whether cooking is required)” row of each single-product article
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does “wakeari” mean?
- It differs by product. The listings describe scallop adductor muscles as wakeari because of appearance, such as cracks, chips and uneven shapes; silver salmon because of bruising, uneven shapes and color loss; and chutoro because of irregular shapes, cracks, chips, sinew, blood clots and so on. For the smoked salmon, amaebi and mentaiko, no reason was found on the Rakuten Ichiba product page. For the snow crab, our single-product article does not summarize the reason, so please check the description on the product page. Check the contents in the photos and descriptions on the product page before choosing.
- Can they be used as gifts?
- The silver salmon is described as for home use rather than as a gift, and the chutoro as not suitable as a gift and for home use. Noshi cannot be added to the smoked salmon. The scallop adductor muscles, amaebi and mentaiko indicate noshi support, but the types of inscription have not been confirmed. For the amaebi, the page says the noshi setting cannot be used with “あす楽” (Asuraku). For the snow crab, noshi and similar support has not been confirmed.
- Are thawing instructions given?
- For the scallop adductor muscles, the page advises thawing naturally in the refrigerator over about half a day, or under running water if you are in a hurry. For the smoked salmon, the seller advises moving it to the refrigerator from around the day before eating and thawing it slowly. For the chutoro, the page says an instruction sheet on thawing is included, but the procedure has not been confirmed. For the silver salmon and mentaiko, no thawing method was found.
- Is there allergy labeling?
- For the smoked salmon, salmon is listed in the field for items equivalent to specified allergens (21 items). For the mentaiko, the label says some of the ingredients contain wheat and soybeans. The snow crab is crab itself. For the amaebi, nothing is stated on Rakuten Ichiba, and the same shop’s product information on Amazon shows shrimp. For the other products, check “Ingredients and allergy labeling” in each single-product article. If you have allergies, ask the seller before buying, or be sure to check the label on the item when it arrives.
Summary: Which One Fits You?
To use it a little at a time in salads and sandwiches
王子サーモン Commercial-Use Smoked Salmon Trimmings 500g
View This ProductView on Rakuten Ichiba (王子サーモン楽天市場店) Amazon: availability not confirmed Yahoo! Shopping: availability not confirmedTo take out only what you need, one shrimp at a time
Echizen Amaebi without Roe 500g, Wakeari (ますよね)
View This Product*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (the Amazon listing is 500g without roe (about 40–50 shrimp) and does not say small size or wakeari; the Rakuten Ichiba item is a small-size wakeari item). The amount and contents in this article are based on the Rakuten Ichiba item. Please check the details on the Amazon product page before purchasing.
To stock up on 1kg of mentaiko at once
魚耕 Wakeari Karashi Mentaiko 1kg (Kireko and Barako)
View This Product
Prices and stock change. Please check the latest price at each button’s link.
What We Checked and What We Could Not Confirm
- What we checked: we confirmed on October 28, 2026 that single-product articles for all 7 products are published, and that each Rakuten Ichiba product page shows the item as on sale (no sold-out indication). The table is transcribed from the descriptions in each single-product article (information dates September to October 2026).
- What we could not confirm: for the smoked salmon, amaebi and mentaiko, the wakeari reason is not stated on the Rakuten Ichiba product page. For the snow crab, the wakeari reason is not summarized in our single-product article. For many products, how long they keep after thawing and the types of inscription on the noshi have not been confirmed.
- Prices, stock, shipping fees and noshi options change, so please check each shop before buying.
This article organizes information published on various retail sites and the contents of the single-product articles published on Ochinity. Product details such as contents, storage method, ingredients, and shipping fees are subject to change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
The order does not indicate any ranking. This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: stated in each single-product article (September to October 2026) / Publication status of the single-product articles checked: October 28, 2026 / Sources: 7 single-product articles on Ochinity, Rakuten Ichiba product pages
