The Japanese word for octopus is tako (traditional Japanese). Find the translations for various octopus species in the table below.
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus タコ | Tako | 蛸 | |
| Common octopus マダコ | Madako | 真蛸 | |
| Blue-ringed octopus ヒョウモンダコ | Hyōmondako | 豹紋蛸 | |
| North Pacific giant octopus ミズダコ | Mizudako | 大ダコ |
Interesting facts about octopuses
Japan is the biggest consumer of octopus in the world and is a common feature in many Japanese dishes such as sushi, sashimi and takoyaki to name but a few. These sea creatures also symbolizes luck, agility and grace.
Learn more about the most popular octopus seafood dishes in Japan here.