Food · Fermented foods

Asari (Japanese Littleneck Clam)

あさり (Asari)

Also known as: Asari, Japanese littleneck clam, Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, 浅蜊, アサリ

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At a glance

Category	Food
Japanese labeling name	あさり生
Common Japanese notations	あさり, 浅蜊, アサリ
Origin	Japanese littleneck clam (Ruditapes philippinarum); historic principal regions Aichi (Mikawa Bay), Chiba (Tokyo Bay), Kyushu (Ariake Sea); domestic production has dramatically declined; major imports from China, Korea — 'origin laundering' (産地偽装) was a major scandal in 2022 with Kumamoto — Japan since 2022 enforces strict origin-labeling rules requiring transparent declaration
Typical functions	Miso-soup defining shellfish (asari no miso-shiru), Bongole-style pasta (Italian-Japanese fusion staple), Sake-mushi (sake-steamed) preparation, Tsukudani (soy-simmered preserve)
Regulatory status in Japan	Standard food labeling. Origin disclosure required and strictly-enforced after 2022 Kumamoto-Chinese mislabeling scandal. Shellfish is a JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen (mandatory for shrimp/crab; recommended for abalone, squid, salmon-roe; clams are not specifically listed but cross-reactivity warrants disclosure). High vitamin B12, iron, taurine — anemia-care nutrient profile.

Asari (あさり / 浅蜊) is the Japanese littleneck (Ruditapes philippinarum). Defining miso-soup shellfish, bongole pasta. **Origin disclosure is strictly enforced after 2022 Kumamoto-Chinese mislabeling scandal.** Iron 2.2 mg/100g, vitamin B12 44.8 μg — premium anemia-care profile.

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Product applications

Functions

Flavoring

Regulatory tags

Culinary ingredient

Origin

Animal-derived

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

Fresh shucked asari retail
Frozen shucked asari B2B (foodservice major)
Tsukudani retail

What it is

Ruditapes philippinarum Japanese littleneck (Manila clam).

Typical uses in Japanese products

Miso-soup defining shellfish.

Bongole-style pasta.

Sake-mushi sake-steamed preparation.

Tsukudani soy-simmered preserve.

For OEM: fresh shucked retail, frozen shucked B2B foodservice, tsukudani.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling.

**Origin disclosure required and strictly enforced post-2022 mislabeling scandal.**

Shellfish recommended-disclosure allergen consideration.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EU	Mollusks are EU-mandatory allergen (Annex II). Clean-water harvesting required.
USA	Mollusk allergen disclosure (FALCPA). FDA shellfish-sanitation standard.
China	Native and ubiquitous. Major aquaculture origin for Japan supply.
Korea	Established as 바지락 (bajirak); major Korean aquaculture.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

Used in similar product applications

Other ingredients commonly used in the same finished-product families.

Sharing similar functions

Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.

From the same origin

Other ingredients that share an origin classification.

References

MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — あさり生

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.