If you are decorating a small platter with little room for 3 dimensional patterns, you can still upgrade an ordinary slice of kamaboko fish cake by creating beautiful patterns on the top red skin itself. This pattern is known as Kamaboko Reins, or Tazuna手綱 in Japanese, which resemblance the narrow strap horse rein that has an interweaved braids.
Watch How to Make Kamaboko Reins
Step 1: Remove the kamaboko from the wooden board.
Step 2: Slice off the uneven edge on both ends.
Step 3: Cut a slice of red-skinned kamaboko 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick.
Step 4: Trim back the red skin of the kamaboko two-thirds of the way along the rounded top.
Step 5: Make a short slit down the center of the red part.
Step 6: Pull the end of the red part through the slit from the bottom.
Step 7: Pull out the end of the red part all the way, then lay the red strip back down along the top so that it covers the white part. Now you have a fine ribbon detail that resembles horse reins on top of the kamaboko.
To learn about other beautiful designs of kamaboko (Japanese fish cake), click here.
