A Day a Month for Salmon Roe

Salmon Roe (Ikura) Day イクラの日 is celebrated on the 19th of every month in Japan. The commemorative day was established by Kappa Create Co., Ltd., the company that operates the popular Kappa Sushi chain. The date comes from a Japanese wordplay reading of the numbers 1 and 9 as “i” and “ku”, forming the word ikura (salmon roe). 

The purpose of Ikura Day is to encourage people to enjoy one of Japan’s most beloved sushi toppings while also revitalizing the sushi industry as a whole. Kappa Sushi offers several ikura-based menu items, including traditional gunkan-maki topped with salmon roe.

Ikura refers to individual salmon or trout eggs that have been separated from the membrane that holds them together. The word itself originates from the Russian term ikra, meaning fish roe. In Japan, ikura is commonly enjoyed salted or marinated in soy sauce and is often served on sushi or over bowls of rice.