noun
Japanese bay scallop
A species of scallop native to Japan, Pecten albicans. Used in cooking and sometimes in decorative crafts.
イタヤガイは日本近海で獲れる貝の一種です。
The Japanese bay scallop is a type of shellfish caught in the seas around Japan.
この刺身はイタヤガイを使っています。
This sashimi uses Japanese bay scallops.
ホタテガイ (Patinopecten yessoensis) is a larger, more commercially important scallop species, while イタヤガイ is smaller and less common.
The name likely derives from 板屋 (いたや, 'board roof') + 貝 (がい, 'shellfish'), possibly referring to the shell's shape or use in roofing materials, but the exact origin is uncertain.