Kappa Ebisen is the Japanese snack brand that launched a baked-shrimp product in 1964.
The snack was developed by Calbee, a Japanese food company founded in Hiroshima in 1949. Kappa Ebisen combines shrimp with a starchy base, producing a light, crisp snack with a savory seafood flavor. It is sold in bags and is widely recognized in Japan.
The name includes “kappa,” referring to a water-dwelling creature from Japanese folklore, and “ebi,” the Japanese word for shrimp. The product helped establish seafood-flavored savory snacks as a major category in Japan.
Kappa Ebisen should not be confused with ordinary shrimp crackers from other Asian cuisines. Those products may be fried and puffed, while Kappa Ebisen is known for its baked texture and Calbee branding.