Boso Ise Ebi no Uta Kakimochi by Nagatoya: Affordable Chiba Rice Snacks with Spiny-Lobster Flavor

When you look for souvenirs in Chiba, you encounter a surprising number of products related to Ise ebi, or Japanese spiny lobster.

“Chiba? Ise?” may sound confusing, and the name naturally makes many people think first of Mie Prefecture. Yet depending on the year, Chiba and Mie trade first place for the size of their spiny-lobster catches, often in a close contest. That helps explain why so many spiny-lobster products are made in Chiba.

I have bought and tasted several of them and introduced them on this site. Every one has been of a quality that I could confidently recommend as a souvenir. Spiny lobsters caught around the Boso Peninsula are said to be especially sweet and springy. I cannot say that exact texture carries into a snack, but the makers seem to create these products with genuine local pride.

This time I tried a product called “Boso Ise Ebi no Uta Kakimochi,” so here is my review.

Boso Ise Ebi no Uta Kakimochi (Nagatoya)

I bought it at Michi-no-Eki Umakuta no Sato, a newly opened roadside station in the Kisarazu area. As you might expect from a modern roadside station, it was an excellent place and is worth visiting as a destination in its own right.

The snack comes in an elegant, glossy orange bag inspired by the color of lobster. The presentation gives it a special quality that makes it suitable for handing to someone as a gift.

The bag contains 100 grams. I believe the price was somewhere around 500 to 800 yen, but photography was prohibited inside the store, so I do not have a record. One bag contains 477 kcal—a fairly substantial amount.

The best-before date is printed on the back, and the product kept for about three months from the date of purchase.

Tiny particles of lobster shell can be seen on the surface.

What Does Boso Ise Ebi no Uta Kakimochi Taste Like?

Time to try it.

The texture is at once crisp and airy.

The lobster’s sweetness, savory depth, and roasted aroma spread across the mouth, creating a surprisingly layered flavor.

Above all, the pieces are so crisp, delicate, and feather-light that it is difficult to stop reaching for more.

Perhaps the “song of the spiny lobster” in the name refers to this lively, rhythmic crunch.

It was extremely tasty.

The bag looks substantial, but the airy lobster crackers are light in both texture and weight. They are easy to carry home without adding much burden to your luggage, which makes them a very practical souvenir.

Thank you for the treat! 🙂

Boso Ise Ebi no Uta Kakimochi Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer