Food · Fermented foods
Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam)
はまぐり (Hamaguri)
Also known as: Hamaguri, Common orient clam, Meretrix lusoria, 蛤, ハマグリ
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | はまぐり 生 / 水煮 / 焼き |
| Common Japanese notations | はまぐり, 蛤, ハマグリ |
| Origin | Common orient clam (Meretrix lusoria); native Japanese hamaguri has dramatically declined — wild Japanese hamaguri remains only in Kashima Sea (Ibaraki) and Ariake Sea (Kyushu); **most retail 'hamaguri' in Japan is now imported Chinese hamaguri (M. petechialis) or Korean hamaguri**; native Japanese hamaguri is luxury-priced category; **defining ingredient for Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day, March 3) sui-mono soup** — symbolizing matched-pair fidelity |
| Typical functions | Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day) defining sui-mono clear soup — cultural ceremony, Sake-mushi sake-steamed preparation, Yaki-hamaguri (grilled hamaguri) — Kuwana (Mie) historic specialty (旧東海道宿場名物), Sushi topping (premium kaiseki), Bongole-style pasta premium variant |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. **Origin disclosure strictly enforced — distinguishing native Japanese vs. imported Chinese/Korean is mandatory.** **Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** |
Hamaguri (はまぐり / 蛤) is the common orient clam (Meretrix lusoria). **Defining ingredient for Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day, March 3) clear-soup ceremony.** Yaki-hamaguri Kuwana historic specialty. Native Japanese hamaguri luxury-priced; most retail is imported Chinese (M. petechialis) or Korean.
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Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Live native Japanese hamaguri (luxury retail)
- Imported Chinese/Korean hamaguri retail (general)
- Frozen shucked hamaguri B2B
- Hamaguri-soup retail finished product
Ingredient profile
Meretrix lusoria common orient clam (native and Asian-imported).
OEM applications
Hina-matsuri Girls' Day clear-soup ceremony.
Sake-mushi sake-steamed.
Yaki-hamaguri Kuwana historic specialty.
Premium sushi topping.
For OEM: live retail (native luxury / imported general), frozen shucked B2B, soup retail.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. **Native Japanese vs. imported origin disclosure mandatory.**
**Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | **Mollusks EU-mandatory allergen.** Niche specialty market. |
|---|---|
| USA | Mollusk allergen disclosure. Niche specialty. |
| China | Native and ubiquitous; major export source for Japan supply. |
| Korea | Established as 백합 (baekhap); domestic aquaculture. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Seasonality & supply calendar
- Harvest months
- Wild: February – April
- Peak supply
- March (peak demand for ひな祭り and 春の祝い膳)
- Off-season
- Domestic wild supply collapsed since 1980s; imports (China / Korea) dominate wholesale
Source: 水産庁 / 環境省 absolute landings statistics. 大和ハマグリ (native) is endangered; 桑名 (Mie) brand supply is small.
Storage requirements
How the receiving OEM facility needs to handle inbound raw material.
- Temperature
- Live 5–10°C; chilled 0°C for prepared
- Conditions
- Live in brackish-water padding; sand-purged before retail
- Shelf life
- Live 3–5 days; chilled 1 week
Supply concentration
Where this ingredient comes from — useful for single-source-risk planning.
- Primary regions
- Domestic 大和ハマグリ small-volume (Mie, Chiba); imports dominate retail
- Import dependence
- ~95% imported (China, Korea Meretrix lusoria)
水産庁 / 環境省
Certifications commonly available
Certification schemes commonly obtainable for this raw material. Always confirm the specific supplier's current certificate before contracting.
| Scheme | Availability | |
|---|---|---|
| Halal | On-request | |
| Kosher | Unavailable |
Documented adulteration risks
Known fraud / adulteration patterns reported by regulators or industry bodies. Specify CoA params and screening tests on every PO.
- Chinese / Korean Meretrix lusoria substituted for Japanese 大和ハマグリ (Meretrix petechialis)
- Domestic supply collapsed >95% since 1980s; imports dominate
Detection: DNA species ID; shell morphometrics
水産庁 / 環境省
Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam)?
- Hamaguri (はまぐり / 蛤) is the common orient clam (Meretrix lusoria). **Defining ingredient for Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day, March 3) clear-soup ceremony.** Yaki-hamaguri Kuwana historic specialty. Native Japanese hamaguri luxury-priced; most retail is imported Chinese (M. petechialis) or Korean.
- What is the regulatory status of Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam) in Japan?
- Standard food labeling. **Origin disclosure strictly enforced — distinguishing native Japanese vs. imported Chinese/Korean is mandatory.** **Mollusk JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**
- What products typically use Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam)?
- Live native Japanese hamaguri (luxury retail) / Imported Chinese/Korean hamaguri retail (general) / Frozen shucked hamaguri B2B / Hamaguri-soup retail finished product
- Where does Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam) come from?
- Common orient clam (Meretrix lusoria); native Japanese hamaguri has dramatically declined — wild Japanese hamaguri remains only in Kashima Sea (Ibaraki) and Ariake Sea (Kyushu); **most retail 'hamaguri' in Japan is now imported Chinese hamaguri (M. petechialis) or Korean hamaguri**; native Japanese hamaguri is luxury-priced category; **defining ingredient for Hina-matsuri (Girls' Day, March 3) sui-mono soup** — symbolizing matched-pair fidelity
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Hamaguri (Common Orient Clam)?
- JSCI: はまぐり 生 / 水煮 / 焼き
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From the same origin
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References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — はまぐり 生 / 水煮 / 焼き
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.