Nameko (Pholiota microspora, formerly Pholiota nameko) is a small, amber- to tawny-orange Japanese mushroom prized for the glossy, gelatinous glaze that coats its caps — a natural polysaccharide slime that turns silky and faintly slippery when cooked. Mild, earthy and subtly nutty, it is one of Japan's most popular cultivated mushrooms, a staple of miso soup, nabe hot pots and soba toppings where its slick texture is the whole point.