Japanese Spiny Lobster

Panulirus japonicus

The Japanese spiny lobster (Panulirus japonicus), called ise-ebi in Japanese, is a large crustacean reaching up to 30 cm in body length with extremely long antennae. It has a striking coloration with a dark blue-green to reddish-purple carapace adorned with yellow and white markings. Found in the northwestern Pacific from Japan to Taiwan and Korea, it inhabits rocky reefs, caves, and crevices at depths of 5 to 30 meters. This nocturnal species shelters in reef holes during the day, emerging at night to forage for mollusks, worms, and small invertebrates. In Japanese culture, ise-ebi is a symbol of celebration and longevity, prominently featured in New Year festivities and wedding ceremonies. Night divers in Japanese waters often encounter these magnificent lobsters emerging from their daytime hideouts, their long antennae waving in the current.