Mactra chinensis (trough shell)
A species of edible saltwater clam found in East Asia. The name is often written in katakana as バカガイ.
The trough shell is one of the clams commonly gathered during clam digging.
Adding shucked trough shell meat to miso soup is delicious.
バカ貝 is the whole trough shell (the living clam), while 青柳 refers only to its edible meat once removed from the shell.
Katakana spelling is common for this shellfish name; usually written in kana.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling; バカ is often written in katakana.
Full kanji spelling, but rarely used.
Rarely used kanji form; 珂 is a character for a type of shell.
The name バカガイ (馬鹿貝) literally means 'fool clam'. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it may refer to the clam's tendency to gape open, making it seem 'foolish' or easy to catch.