数(かず)の子(こ)

The name comes from 鰊(かど), an old word for herring: 鰊(かど)の子(こ) became かずのこ, later written with 数(かず).

Common collocations

• 数(かず)の子(こ)の塩抜(しおぬ)き: soaking the salt out of herring roe
• 味付(あじつ)け数(かず)の子(こ): pre-seasoned herring roe
• 数(かず)の子(こ)の歯(は)ごたえ: the crunch of herring roe

Cultural note

• In the New Year's 御節(おせち) box it stands for fertility and many descendants, since one block holds countless eggs. It sits alongside 黒豆(くろまめ) (black beans, for health) and 田作(たづく)り (candied sardines, for a good harvest) as one of the three classic 祝(いわ)い肴(ざかな).