The “越前” (Echizen) in the shop name is part of the shop’s trade name and does not indicate where the raw ingredient comes from or where it is processed (the product page states the country of origin of the walleye pollock ovaries used as the raw ingredient as Russia and the United States. The place of processing is not stated on the product page and is not confirmed). Based on the product page and Rakuten reviews, this article organizes five points on Echizen Kani Donya Masuyone’s (越前かに問屋ますよね) wakeari (imperfect/irregular, sold at a discount) uncolored karashi mentaiko, 1kg (2 packs of 500g): amount, shelf life, ingredients, gift suitability, and reviews. It is an uneven-shaped item described as kireko (pieces that have broken apart) and bara-ko (loose roe eggs), and you choose the spiciness from spicy (辛口) and regular. Because the number of servings, the manufacturer, and the place of processing could not be confirmed on the product page, they are marked as not confirmed, and we could not find any guidance on whether heating is required.
*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (the Amazon page is for the regular type; on Rakuten Ichiba you choose between spicy (辛口) and regular). 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.
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 | Masuyone Uncolored (無着色) [Wakeari] Karashi Mentaiko 1kg (2 × 500g) (kireko / bara-ko). The product name shown on Rakuten’s product page is longer than this and also includes promotional wording such as awards, ratings, and uses. This article gives the part that corresponds to the specification |
|---|---|
| Name | 辛子明太子（無着色）Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Amount | 1kg (2 packs of 500g). Number of servings: not confirmed (not stated on the product page)Source: same as above |
| What you receive depends on your choice | You choose the spiciness from two types, spicy (辛口) and regular. The ingredients listed differ between the two (see the “Ingredients and Allergen Labeling” section). In its product description images, the shop describes the regular type as moderately spicy and the spicy type as having a sharp kick. The shape, size, and proportion of kireko and bara-ko cannot be chosen, and we could not find any statement on the product page guaranteeing themSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page and product description images (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Storage method | Stated to be stored frozen (−18°C or below)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description |
| Best-before date | Stated as within 1 month if frozen (1 week recommended) and within 7 days if refrigerated. The page says household freezers hold a higher temperature than commercial freezers, so quality may suffer, and advises eating it as soon as possible. The number of days it keeps after thawing is not confirmedSource: same as above |
| Country of origin (raw materials) | Walleye pollock ovaries (Russia / United States)Source: same as above |
| Place of processing | not confirmed |
| Condition / how to eat (heating required?) | It is described as arriving frozen and as being thawed in the refrigerator. We could not find any guidance on whether heating is required or whether it can be eaten rawSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page, product description and images on the product page |
| Thawing method | The page advises moving it to the refrigerator while still frozen and thawing it for about half a day to one day. Because thawing at room temperature harms quality, it advises always thawing in the refrigerator. Since it comes in 2 packs of 500g, you can thaw half at a time, and if you want to portion it further, the page says you can cut it with a knife while frozen, wrap the portions in plastic wrap, and store them in the freezerSource: images on the product page (product description images) |
| Reason for the discount (wakeari) | The product name contains “切れ子・ばら子” (kireko / bara-ko), and the product description images state that the appearance of the kireko and bara-ko is the reason for the wakeari. We could not find any statement on the degree or proportion of the uneven shapesSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page and product description images |
| Shipping | The “配送状態” (delivery condition) field of the product description images carries guidance to move it to the refrigerator while still frozen, and it is described as arriving frozen. The Cool TA-Q-BIN category (frozen or chilled delivery) is not stated on the product page and is not confirmed. The shipping estimate in the purchase-field options is shown as “即日出荷対応OK（配送日指定も可能）” (same-day shipping available; delivery date can also be specified)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page and product description images (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | not confirmed |
| Shop | Echizen Kani Donya Masuyone (越前かに問屋ますよね) (Rakuten Ichiba). The seller is 有限会社増米商店 (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 2, 2026) reads as follows for each type of spiciness.
Regular type: Walleye pollock ovaries (Russia / United States), salt, fermented seasoning, fish sauce, chili pepper, seasoning (amino acids), sorbitol, trehalose, alcohol, antioxidant (vitamin C), enzyme, niacin, spices, sweetener (stevia), color-developing agent (sodium nitrite)
Spicy (辛口) type: Walleye pollock ovaries (Russia / United States), salt, yeast extract, fermented seasoning, kelp dashi stock, chili pepper, reduced starch syrup / seasoning (amino acids, etc.), sorbitol, antioxidant (V.C), niacin, color-developing agent (sodium nitrite), enzyme
We could not find a field on Rakuten’s product page showing allergies or specified ingredients, and the ingredients field also contains no statement indicating allergens. Allergen labeling is not confirmed. 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 2, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| Point to check | For this product | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount & servings | 1kg (2 packs of 500g). Number of servings: not confirmed. The shape, size, and proportion of kireko and bara-ko cannot be chosen | Amount shown on the product page. No number of servings is stated |
| 2. Storage & shelf life | Frozen (−18°C or below). Stated as within 1 month frozen (1 week recommended) and within 7 days refrigerated. Thawing in the refrigerator is advised | Product description and product description images on the product page |
| 3. Ingredients & allergen labeling | The ingredients listed differ between spicy (辛口) and regular. A color-developing agent (sodium nitrite) is listed. Allergen labeling: not confirmed | Ingredients field of the Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Shown as supporting noshi (gift-wrapping label). It is a sticker noshi, chosen on the checkout screen. The guide image lists examples of noshi types. Gift wrapping and message cards could not be confirmed | Product page display and noshi guide image |
| 5. Review trends | The Rakuten Ichiba rating is 4.5 / 5 (3,413 reviews). Trends by theme are in the “What Public Reviews Say” section (118 reviews read in total; may not reflect the product’s current condition) | Rakuten customer reviews (“Minna no Review”) (viewed October 2, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
What we could confirm from the product page is as follows (viewed October 2, 2026).
- Noshi: the product page shows that noshi is supported. The noshi guide image says the noshi will be a “sticker noshi” (シールのし) and that you select the noshi on the checkout screen. The types of noshi listed include “お歳暮” (oseibo, year-end gift), “暑中見舞い” (summer greeting), “お年賀” (New Year’s greeting gift), “お見舞い” (get-well visit gift), “敬老の日” (Respect for the Aged Day), “母の日” (Mother’s Day), “父の日” (Father’s Day), “贈呈” (presentation), “御礼” (thanks), “記念品” (commemorative gift), “誕生日” (birthday), and “結婚記念日” (wedding anniversary). The page also says that, as for the outer box, the gift box may differ
- Gift wrapping, message cards, and name printing: could not be confirmed
- Position of this product: it is a wakeari item of kireko and bara-ko, and the contents that arrive are uneven in shape. This article does not position this product as suited to gifts. If you give it as a gift, please also consider whether you can tell the recipient how the contents will look
- Delivery: it is described as a frozen product. 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) | 4.5 / 5 | 3,413 | October 2, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 2,196 / 4★ 882 / 3★ 233 / 2★ 58 / 1★ 44 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 2, 2026)
What we read: 59 reviews in the standard order (Rakuten’s default order) (posted February 2012 to August 2026; latest August 2026), plus 29 filtered to 1★ (posted August 2012 to November 2024) and 30 filtered to 2★ (posted October 2012 to October 2024), 118 in total. Of the 59 reviews in the standard order, 54 were posted within the last two years, and of the 59 reviews at 1★ and 2★, 1 was posted within 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
Easy to store and thaw, split into 2 packs of 500g
7 of the 59 reviews in the standard order (5 of them within the last two years) said it comes in 2 packs of 500g, which makes it easy to store and thaw. The shop also advises that you can thaw half at a time and, if you want to portion it further, cut it while frozen and keep it frozen.
Easy to use, being kireko and bara-ko
8 reviews (7 of them within the last two years) said, in effect, that because it is kireko and bara-ko there is no need to cut it, and that it is easy to use because they care more about taste than looks even if the shape is broken.
Satisfaction with the amount
10 reviews (9 of them within the last two years) said they were satisfied with the amount. Some mention the price, but prices change, so this article does not state them. Separately, about 16 reviews mentioned buying it again.
You can choose the spiciness
5 reviews (all within the last two years) said they could choose the spiciness from spicy (辛口) and regular and found one that suited their taste.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 2, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Spicier than expected
About 12 of the 59 reviews in the standard order (all within the last two years) and about 11 of the 59 reviews at 1★ and 2★ (none within the last two years) said it was spicier than expected, or that even the regular type felt spicy. How spiciness is perceived differs by writer.
How to check: The difference between spicy (辛口) and regular, and the shop’s guidance on spiciness, are summarized in the “What you receive depends on your choice” row of this article’s “Basic Information” section.
Wateriness and grain texture after thawing
About 10 of the 29 reviews at 1★, about 12 of the 30 reviews at 2★, and 3 of the 59 reviews in the standard order said it was watery after thawing, that drip (liquid that leaks out) came out, or that the grain texture was weak. Most of the 1★ and 2★ posts date from 2012 to 2018, and the only post within the last two years is 1 at 1★ (November 2024).
How to check: The thawing method the shop provides is summarized in the “Thawing method” row of this article’s “Basic Information” section.
Smell, and differences in quality by purchase
About 7 of the 59 reviews at 1★ and 2★ said they were bothered by a fishy or medicinal smell, and about 12 said they felt a difference in quality depending on the purchase. Most of these posts date from around 2012 to 2017, and there are none from the last two years.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 2, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Want to split it into 2 packs of 500g and thaw it a little at a time
- Fine with the shape and size of kireko and bara-ko changing with each purchase
- Want to choose the spiciness from spicy (辛口) and regular
- Have room in the freezer for 1kg
Who Should Be Careful
- Not good with spicy food (some reviews said even the regular type felt spicy)
- Put weight on how uniform the shape and grains are
- Want to use it as a gift (it is a wakeari item of kireko and bara-ko)
- Have an allergy (allergen labeling is not confirmed)
- Want guidance on whether heating is required (we could not find any)
*The Amazon link goes to the same store’s item in different specifications (the Amazon page is for the regular type; on Rakuten Ichiba you choose between spicy (辛口) and regular). 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.
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 2, 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 (2 packs of 500g), a wakeari product of kireko and bara-ko. You choose the spiciness from spicy (辛口) or regular. The shape and size 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 within 1 month if frozen (1 week recommended) and within 7 days if refrigerated. Thawing in the refrigerator is advised. No allergen labeling was found, so it is not confirmed, and a color-developing agent (sodium nitrite) is listed
- Noshi is supported, but because it is a wakeari item of kireko and bara-ko, we do not position it as suited to gifts. Reviews include comments about spiciness, and remarks about wateriness and smell are mostly from older posts
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 2, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “越前かに問屋ますよね” product page, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 2, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
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