Herring roe matsumae-zuke — a Hokkaido-style pickled dish made with herring roe, kelp, and squid — is a product where what actually arrives can change depending on the herring-roe content ratio, the amount, and which pack-count option you choose, so it can be hard to tell from the product name alone how many days you have to eat it within, or whether it works as a gift. This article organizes the publicly available product information and review-site listings for the herring roe matsumae-zuke (60% herring roe) sold by Kaisanbutsuten Mitsuwa Rakuten Ichiba Store into five points: amount and pack structure, storage method, ingredient and allergen labeling, suitability as a gift, and trends in public reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Amount and pack structure
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Suitability as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the product page. However, the "not confirmed" labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product Name | Kaisanbutsuten Mitsuwa Herring Roe Matsumae-zuke (60% Herring Roe / "wakeari") 500gSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed September 21, 2026). "wakeari" (imperfect/irregular, sold at a discount). |
|---|---|
| Name | The product description calls it "matsumae-zuke," while the product specification table calls it "60% herring roe matsumae-zuke."Source: same as above |
| Amount | 500g (1 pack). Options of 500g × 2 packs (1kg total) and 500g × 4 packs (2kg total) are also availableSource: same as above |
| What Arrives Depends on Your Choice | At purchase you choose the pack count — "500g × 1 pack," "500g × 2 packs," or "500g × 4 packs." There is no size-grade or spiciness optionSource: same as above |
| Storage Method | Keep frozen (−18°C or below)Source: product description on the product page |
| Best-Before Date | 1 year frozen from the manufacture dateSource: same as above |
| Shelf Life After Thawing | Keep refrigerated (10°C or below); 14 days unopened. Once opened, eat as soon as possibleSource: same as above |
| Country of Origin | Not confirmed (neither the product description nor the product specification table states a country of origin for the raw ingredients)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed September 21, 2026) |
| Place of Processing | Not confirmed (the "Country/Region of Manufacture" field in the product specification table shows only Japan, with no prefecture-level detail)Source: same as above |
| State / How to Eat (Whether Cooking Is Required) | The listing advises eating it as-is after thawing (no cooking required)Source: product description on the product page |
| Delivery | Cool frozen delivery (Sagawa Express). Yamato Transport is used for some remote islands, and delivery is not available to the Izu Islands or the Ogasawara IslandsSource: same as above |
| Manufacturer | Mitsuwa Shokken Co., Ltd. — 42-5 Shindaya-chi-mae, Hebita, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi PrefectureSource: product description on the product page, and the shop’s company overview page (viewed September 21, 2026) |
| Shop | Kaisanbutsuten Mitsuwa Rakuten Ichiba Store (海産物店 ミツワ楽天市場店) |
Price is subject to change, so it is not stated here. Please check the link above for the current price and stock.
The product name includes the label "wakeari." In the product description images on the product page, the shop explains that it is sold as wakeari because some pieces are of a size or have breaks that make them unsuitable for gift-givingSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description images (viewed September 23, 2026). If you plan to give it as a gift, please take this into account.
The catchcopy field on the Rakuten product page also shows achievement claims such as "2 titles achieved" and "Ranking No. 1," but these are labels the shop itself added, and the host, category, and timing of any ranking are not confirmed within the product page; they do not indicate any superiority in quality. The actual review ratings we confirmed are shown in this article’s "What Public Reviews Say" section.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The ingredients are listed as herring roe, kelp, carrot, dried squid, sugar, reduced starch syrup, soy sauce, hydrolyzed protein, bonito extract, fermented seasoning, brewed vinegar / alcohol, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), thickener (xanthan gum), and acidulantSource: product description on the product page (viewed September 21, 2026).
The allergen labeling states "contains wheat and soy as a portion of ingredients"Source: same as above. The "Ingredients" field in the product specification table shows only "herring roe" in brief, so we have given priority to the more detailed ingredient list shown in the product description.
If you have a wheat or soy allergy, please check the labeling above before purchasing, or check the food information label on the product again when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, "About Allergen Labeling" (viewed September 21, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| What to Check | For This Product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount / how many it serves | Choose from 3 options: 500g, 500g × 2 (1kg), or 500g × 4 (2kg). A guideline for how many people it serves is not confirmed (not stated on the page) | Product page’s product detail selection field |
| 2. Storage method and shelf life | Keep frozen at −18°C or below; best-before date is 1 year from manufacture. After thawing, keep refrigerated at 10°C or below for up to 14 days unopened, and eat as soon as possible once opened | Product description on the product page |
| 3. Ingredients and allergen labeling | Ingredients listed include herring roe, kelp, carrot, dried squid, and others. Allergen labeling states "contains wheat and soy as a portion of ingredients" | Product description on the product page |
| 4. Suitability as a gift | Badges shown for noshi, gift wrapping, and message card options. The type of noshi inscription and the kind of packaging are not confirmed | Product page’s gift-options field |
| 5. Trends in reviews | Rakuten customer reviews: 4.58 / 5 (890 reviews). Based on the first 10 reviews under the default "Standard" sort order (posted between September and November 2025, most recent November 10, 2025), this trend does not necessarily reflect the product’s current condition. Many comments praise the size and texture of the herring roe and the amount, and several comments mention that the seasoning is on the strong side | First 10 reviews on review.rakuten.co.jp, read in full (September 21, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
The product page shows badges for noshi (gift-wrapping label), gift wrapping, and message card optionsSource: product page (viewed September 21, 2026). A message card can be included, with purpose options of "none," "thanks/gratitude," "ochugen (mid-year gift)," "oseibo (year-end gift)," "birthday," "Respect for the Aged Day," "Father’s Day," or "Mother’s Day"Source: same as above. Multiple items ordered together are shipped in a single packageSource: same as above.
On the other hand, we found no UI for choosing the type of noshi inscription, and no mention of a gift box, simple gift box, or gift wrapping option, so these two points are not confirmed. If you are considering this as a gift, checking the following with the shop before purchase may help avoid a mismatch:
- Whether you can choose the type of noshi inscription (we could not confirm this in the product page’s UI)
- Whether a gift box or other gift-style packaging is available (not stated)
- Whether you can specify a delivery date/time the recipient can receive, since it is shipped frozen
What Public Reviews Say
This is based on reviews we actually read on the Rakuten product page. The rating figures are as of the time we viewed them and may change afterward.
| Site | Rating | Number of Reviews | Date Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.58 / 5 | 890 reviews | September 21, 2026 |
Breakdown: 5★ 593 / 4★ 244 / 3★ 34 / 2★ 13 / 1★ 6. We read the first 10 reviews shown under the default "Standard" sort order (posted September 27 – November 10, 2025; most recent November 10, 2025). This trend does not necessarily reflect the product’s current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Many reviews praise how large and plentiful the herring roe pieces are, along with the texture and presence. Several comments say it goes well with rice or as a drink accompaniment, and several mention giving it as a gift for birthdays, Respect for the Aged Day, or to family, with a number of reviewers indicating they intend to repeat-purchase.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed September 21, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Several reviews note that the seasoning is on the strong side. One 4-star review, which we confirmed by reading its text, is actually about dissatisfaction with a different product from the same shop, "seasoned herring roe," and is not a low rating for this product itself.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed September 21, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Wants to enjoy the texture of herring roe with rice or as a drink accompaniment
- Wants to choose from 500g, 1kg, or 2kg pack options
- Wants to keep a frozen stock with a long shelf life
- Wants it for home use and does not mind uneven sizes or broken pieces (the shop sells it as wakeari because of sizes or breaks unsuitable for gifts; the product page does show noshi, gift wrapping, and message card badges)
Who Should Be Careful
- Has a wheat or soy allergy (labeled as containing wheat and soy as a portion of ingredients)
- May find the seasoning too strong (several mentions out of the 10 reviews we read; this trend does not necessarily reflect the product’s current condition)
- Wants to specify the type of noshi inscription or the kind of packaging when sending it as a gift (not confirmed)
- Lives in the Izu Islands or the Ogasawara Islands (cool delivery is not available there, so shipping is not possible)
Price, stock, shipping fee, and delivery date are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is September 21, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link above before purchasing.
On Amazon, we could confirm the same manufacturer’s product in 500g × 1 pack and 500g × 2 pack options, but could not find one matching the 500g × 4 pack (2kg) option, so because the set of pack options does not match, we list this as availability not confirmed.
This article’s links include affiliate advertising. Editorial Policy
Summary
- Sold in 500g units, with 500g × 1, 500g × 2 (1kg), or 500g × 4 (2kg) options. A guideline for how many people it serves is not stated on the product page and is not confirmed
- Keep frozen at −18°C or below; best-before date is 1 year from manufacture. After thawing, keep refrigerated at 10°C or below and finish within 14 days unopened
- Allergen labeling states "contains wheat and soy as a portion of ingredients." Country of origin for the raw ingredients and place of processing (prefecture) are not confirmed
Related Pages
This article organizes information publicly available on retail and review sites. Details such as amount, storage method, and ingredients may change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
Assessments of taste or quality are summaries of third-party posts with the source stated, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. How we put this article together is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: September 21, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba product page of Kaisanbutsuten Mitsuwa Rakuten Ichiba Store, Rakuten Ichiba shop guide (company overview), Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency "About Allergen Labeling"
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