Supplements · Mushroom extracts
Japanese Reishi Mushroom
日本産霊芝 (Nihonsan reishi)
Also known as: Reishi, Mannentake (萬年茸), Antlered Reishi (鹿角霊芝), Lingzhi
At a glance
| Category | Supplements |
|---|---|
| Common Japanese notations | 霊芝, レイシ, 鹿角霊芝, 万年茸 |
| Origin | Fungal (Ganoderma lucidum; Ganoderma japonicum), cultivated in Japan |
| Typical functions | Immune support (β-glucan source), Antioxidant support, Adaptogenic / stress support |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Food ingredient under the Food Sanitation Act. Listed as a crude drug ingredient used in some Kampo and traditional formulations. Specific reishi extracts are eligible for FFC notification where supporting evidence is provided. |
Reishi (霊芝, Ganoderma lucidum and the closely related Ganoderma japonicum) is one of the most historically significant medicinal fungi in East Asia. Wild reishi was historically rare; Japanese researchers achieved the world's first artificial cultivation of reishi in the 1970s, opening the path to the modern supplement category. A specialty form known as antlered reishi (鹿角霊芝, rokkaku reishi) — produced by suppressing cap formation so that branched antler-like fruiting bodies develop — is reported to contain over 50% β-glucans by weight.
Classification
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Product applications
Regulatory tags
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Capsule and tablet supplements
- Powdered fruiting body and extract
- Functional teas and beauty drinks
What it is
Japanese reishi is the cultivated fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum or the related Ganoderma japonicum, grown in Japan on hardwood log or sawdust substrates under controlled humidity and temperature. Material is supplied as whole dried fruiting body, milled powder, or as hot-water and ethanol extracts standardized to β-glucan or triterpene content.
Antlered reishi (鹿角霊芝) is a specialty cultivation form in which environmental conditions are manipulated to suppress cap formation, yielding branched antler-like fruiting bodies with reported β-glucan content above 50%. The active constituents include β-1,3/1,6-glucans, ganoderic-acid triterpenoids, ergosterol, and reishi-specific peptidoglycans.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Reishi is used in capsule and tablet supplements, powdered preparations (whole fruiting body or extract), functional teas, and beauty drinks. Marketing positioning typically emphasises immune support, daily wellness, and adaptogenic / stress-management benefits.
Domestic Japanese cultivation is concentrated in Akita, Hokkaido, and contract-farm regions across Japan. Domestic material is differentiated from imported reishi by traceable cultivation, organic JAS certification (where applicable), and grower-controlled processing. Different cultivars and extraction methods produce materials with meaningfully different β-glucan and triterpene profiles, so suppliers and brand preparations should not be treated as interchangeable.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Food ingredient regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. Reishi (Mannentake, 万年茸) is recognised as a food.
Specific reishi extracts are eligible for Foods with Function Claims (機能性表示食品 / FFC) notification where the preparation has the supporting evidence required by the Consumer Affairs Agency. Eligibility is preparation-specific.
Reishi is also used as a crude drug ingredient in some traditional and Kampo formulations.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Whole dried fruiting body and traditional preparations of reishi have a history of food use in some EU member states. Concentrated reishi extracts may fall within the scope of the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283; suppliers should confirm status of their specific preparation. |
|---|---|
| USA | Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) extracts are widely used as dietary supplement ingredients under DSHEA. Several reishi preparations have GRAS notifications. |
| China | Reishi (灵芝) is included in the NHC list of substances usable both as food and as traditional Chinese medicine ingredients, with category-specific conditions. Use in registered health foods (保健食品) is established. |
| Korea | Reishi (영지) is recognised as a Health Functional Food ingredient under the MFDS framework, with approved functional claims for immune support based on β-glucan-standardised preparations. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after each product's current full ingredient list and trademark attribution have been verified against the grower or supplier listing.
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Related ingredients
References
- Japan MAFF — record of world-first artificial reishi cultivation (1970s)
- Consumer Affairs Agency — Foods with Function Claims (機能性表示食品) database
- Sakamoto Bio product information — antlered reishi (鹿角霊芝)
Last updated: 2026-04-25. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.