The “越前” (Echizen) in the shop name and the “博多” (Hakata) in the product name are the shop name and a name used for the product; they do not indicate where the raw ingredient comes from (the product page states the country of origin of the walleye pollock ovaries used as the raw ingredient as Russia or the United States. The place of processing is stated as Fukuoka Prefecture). Based on the product page and Rakuten reviews, this article organizes five points on Kouragumi’s (甲羅組) wakeari (imperfect/irregular, sold at a discount) uncolored karashi mentaiko, 1kg: amount, shelf life, ingredients, gift suitability, and reviews. It also covers that the shape and size of the kireko (pieces that have broken apart) and bara-ko (loose roe eggs) cannot be chosen, so the contents may differ with each purchase. Because the number of servings, the manufacturer, and whether heating is required could not be confirmed on the product page, they are marked as not confirmed.
What We Confirmed
- Amount (number of servings is not confirmed)
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works 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 | Kouragumi wakeari uncolored Hakata karashi mentaiko 1kg (kireko / bara-ko). The product name shown on Rakuten’s product page is longer than this and, besides the wording for spicy (辛口), uncolored, kireko, and bara-ko, also includes words about use and promotion. This article gives the part that corresponds to the specification |
|---|---|
| Name | 辛子めんたいこ（無着色）Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description (viewed October 1, 2026) |
| Amount | 1kg. Number of servings: not confirmed (not stated on the product page)Source: same as above |
| Variation in contents by purchase | There is no specification selector; only 1kg is offered. The proportion and size of kireko and bara-ko cannot be chosen, and the product page does not state any guarantee about them. Please note that even for the same product, how the contents look may differ with each purchaseSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 1, 2026) |
| Storage method | Frozen (−18°C or below). Refrigerate after thawingSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description |
| Best-before date | At least 1 month from the shipping date when kept frozen at −18°C or below. After thawing, the page states 3 days if kept refrigeratedSource: same as above |
| Country of origin (raw materials) | Walleye pollock ovaries (Russia or the United States)Source: same as above |
| Place of processing | Fukuoka PrefectureSource: same as above |
| Condition / how to eat (heating required?) | The page says to eat it after letting it thaw naturally. We could not find any guidance on whether heating is requiredSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description and images on the product page |
| Thawing method | The page says to let it thaw naturally. Detailed thawing conditions, such as in the refrigerator or at room temperature, are not confirmed. If you cannot eat it all at once, the page advises cutting it into portions with a knife while frozen, wrapping them in plastic wrap, and storing them in the freezerSource: same as above |
| Reason for the discount (wakeari) | The page says the product is made from mentaiko made for gift use that lost its shape, for example because the thin skin tore during production, or whose shape is uneven. The shop also says the taste is no different from regular products, but this is the shop’s own explanation and has not been verified by OchinitySource: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description |
| Shipping | Cool TA-Q-BIN (frozen) (Yamato Transport). The delivery date is specified in a format from 4 days after the order date up to within 30 days, and the page says “Asuraku” (Rakuten’s next-day shipping service) is also supportedSource: same as above |
| Manufacturer | Not confirmed |
| Shop | Echizen Kani Shokunin Kouragumi (DENSHOKU) (Rakuten Ichiba). The seller is Denshoku Co., Ltd. (株式会社伝食) (Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description |
Prices are not listed here because they change. Please check the current price and stock availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The ingredients field of the Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 1, 2026) reads as follows.
Walleye pollock ovaries (Russia or the United States), salt, shochu, fermented seasoning, chili pepper, hydrolyzed protein, kelp extract, dried bonito extract / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), sweetener (sorbitol), antioxidant (vitamin C), enzyme, color-developing agent (sodium nitrite), (part of the ingredients contain wheat, soybeans, and gelatin)
The only allergen statement is wheat, soybeans, and gelatin at the end of this ingredients field. We could not find a separate field on Rakuten’s product page that shows allergies or specified ingredients. Amazon’s product page (an item whose manufacturer model number is the same as Rakuten’s product number) also lists the same ingredients and says it contains wheat, soybeans, and gelatin, so the two do not conflict as far as allergens are concerned.
The product name carries the label “uncolored” (無着色), but the ingredients field lists a color-developing agent (sodium nitrite). Please treat the wording in the product name and the entry in the ingredients field as separate things, and check the ingredients in the field above. If you have an allergy, please check the shop’s listing before buying, and the food information label on the product once it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 1, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| Point to check | For this product | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount & servings | 1kg. Number of servings: not confirmed. The proportion and size of kireko and bara-ko cannot be chosen | Name and amount shown on the product page. No number of servings is stated |
| 2. Storage & shelf life | Frozen (−18°C or below). The page states at least 1 month frozen from the shipping date and 3 days refrigerated after thawing | Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description |
| 3. Ingredients & allergen labeling | Stated to contain wheat, soybeans, and gelatin in part of the ingredients. A color-developing agent (sodium nitrite) is listed | Ingredients field of the Rakuten Ichiba product description (Amazon’s product page states the same) |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Shown as supporting noshi (gift-wrapping label). On the other hand, the shop advises that it is not recommended for gifts and the like because of its appearance | Product description and noshi guide image on the product page |
| 5. Review trends | The Rakuten Ichiba rating is 4.43 / 5 (5,966 reviews). Trends by theme are in the “What Public Reviews Say” section (117 reviews read in total; may not reflect the product’s current condition) | Rakuten customer reviews (“Minna no Review”) (viewed October 1, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
What we could confirm from the product page is as follows (viewed October 1, 2026).
- The shop’s position: the product description says that, because of its appearance, it is not recommended for gifts and the like and is suited to eating at home. This article also does not position this product as suited to gifts
- Noshi: the product page shows that noshi is supported. The noshi guide image says that all noshi will be the simple-packaging “strip sticker” noshi (outer noshi), that Buddhist-style noshi (butsu-noshi) cannot be attached, and that the sender’s name is written on the shipping slip and is not included on the sticker noshi. A sample with the inscription “御歳暮” (oseibo, year-end gift) is shown, but we could not confirm a list of the inscriptions you can choose from
- Gift wrapping, message cards, and name printing: could not be confirmed
- Delivery: it arrives by Cool TA-Q-BIN (frozen). Please also consider the recipient’s date and time for receiving it, and freezer space for 1kg
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the Rakuten Ichiba product reviews by theme. Rating figures are as of viewing and change afterward.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.43 / 5 | 5,966 | October 1, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 3,804 / 4★ 1,395 / 3★ 459 / 2★ 142 / 1★ 166 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 1, 2026)
What we read: 57 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted October 2024 to September 2026; latest September 2026), plus 30 filtered to 1★ (posted May 2014 to January 2026) and 30 filtered to 2★ (posted May 2014 to March 2026), 117 in total. Many of the 60 reviews at 1★ and 2★ are old posts, and 9 of them are from the last two years. Counts were taken theme by theme and may differ by 1–2 depending on how they are counted. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Amount and satisfaction
22 of the 57 reviews in the default order said they were satisfied with being able to use plenty of the 1kg amount. Some mention the price, but prices change, so this article does not state them.
Easy to portion and keep frozen
20 reviews said that after it arrived they cut it with a knife while still frozen, divided it with plastic wrap or bags, and kept it frozen. The shop also advises cutting it into portions while frozen and storing it if you cannot eat it all.
Ease of use in cooking
16 reviews said it is easy to use in dishes such as pasta, onigiri (rice balls), and tamagoyaki (rolled omelet).
Spiciness and pairing with rice
13 reviews said the spiciness was just right and went well with rice. How spiciness is perceived differs by writer, and 3 reviews also said it is spicy but delicious.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 1, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Wateriness and grain texture after thawing
15 of the 60 reviews at 1★ and 2★ said it was watery after thawing or that the popping texture of the grains was weak. The posts date from May 2014 to August 2020, and there are none from the last two years.
How to check: The thawing and storage methods the shop provides are summarized in the “Thawing method” and “Best-before date” rows of this article’s “Basic Information” section.
Differences in contents by purchase
9 of the 60 reviews at 1★ and 2★ (3 of them posted within the last two years) said that the kireko were large last time but small this time, or that it was all grains (roe). Among the 57 reviews in the default order, there are also posts noting differences in how the contents look, such as mostly kireko, many bara-ko, or smallish grains.
How to check: The fact that shape and size cannot be chosen, and the reason for the discount, are summarized in the “Variation in contents by purchase” and “Reason for the discount (wakeari)” rows of this article’s “Basic Information” section.
Strength of spiciness and saltiness
9 of the 60 reviews at 1★ and 2★ (1 of them posted within the last two years) said it was spicy or salty.
How to check: The “辛口” (spicy) wording in the product name appears in the “Product name” row of this article’s “Basic Information” section.
Posts reporting feeling unwell after eating
2 of the 30 reviews at 1★ (both from 2025) said they felt unwell after eating. The posts do not show the cause, and we cannot confirm whether it was due to this product.
How to check: If you have health concerns, check the storage and thawing guidance in the “Storage method”, “Thawing method”, and “Best-before date” rows of “Basic Information”, and the ingredients in the “Ingredients and Allergen Labeling” section.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 1, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Want to mix it into dishes such as pasta, onigiri, and tamagoyaki and use it in quantity
- Fine with the shape and size changing with each purchase
- Able to portion it and keep it in the freezer
- Have room in the freezer for 1kg
Who Should Be Careful
- Have a wheat, soybean, or gelatin allergy (stated to be contained in part of the ingredients)
- Put weight on the shape and size of the kireko and on how uniform the grains are
- Want to use it as a gift (the shop advises it is not recommended for gifts and the like)
- Want guidance on whether heating is required (we could not find any)
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 1, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- A frozen 1kg item that the page describes as a wakeari product made from items that lost their shape. The shape and size of kireko and bara-ko cannot be chosen, and the contents may differ with each purchase. Number of servings: not confirmed
- According to the product page, the best-before date is at least 1 month from the shipping date when frozen and 3 days refrigerated after thawing. Part of the ingredients contain wheat, soybeans, and gelatin, and a color-developing agent (sodium nitrite) is also listed
- The shop advises that it is not recommended for gifts and the like because of its appearance, so care is needed when giving it as a gift. We could not confirm the types of noshi inscription
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on sales sites and review sites. Product information such as amount, storage method, and ingredients may change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 1, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “越前かに職人甲羅組” product page, Amazon product page (for comparing ingredients), Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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