Food · Fermented foods
Ma-dai (Japanese Red Sea Bream)
まだい (Ma-dai)
Also known as: Ma-dai, Japanese red sea bream, Tai, Pagrus major, 真鯛, 鯛
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | まだい |
| Common Japanese notations | まだい, 真鯛, マダイ, 鯛 |
| Origin | Japanese red sea bream (Pagrus major); both wild and farmed; principal modern domestic farming Ehime (Uwajima), Mie, Kumamoto, Nagasaki; iconic ceremonial Japanese fish — 'tai' is associated with auspicious 'medetai' wordplay; central to celebrations (weddings, New Year, Iwai) |
| Typical functions | Iconic celebration fish — wedding, New Year, Iwai (auspicious occasions), Premium sashimi/sushi white-flesh signature, Tai-meshi (sea bream rice) regional specialty (Ehime), Tai-no-arani simmered preparations, Premium gift retail (Akashi-dai, Naruto-dai, Awaji-dai) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Wild vs farmed disclosure essential. Multiple regional brands (Akashi-dai Hyogo, Naruto-dai Tokushima, Awaji-dai Hyogo). Fish allergen recommended. |
Ma-dai (まだい / 真鯛) — Japanese red sea bream (Pagrus major) — is one of Japan's most culturally and ceremonially significant fish, central to weddings, New Year, and auspicious celebrations (the 'tai/medetai' wordplay). OEM positions: ceremonial whole tai, premium sushi/sashimi, regional Tai-meshi specialty (Ehime), and premium gift retail (Akashi-dai, Naruto-dai). Both wild and farmed.
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
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Fresh whole tai (foodservice and ceremonial gift)
- Sushi/sashimi tai fillet
- Pre-prepared tai-no-shioyaki for ceremonial use
- Premium regional gift retail (Akashi-dai, Naruto-dai)
What it is
Pagrus major Japanese red sea bream. Wild and farmed.
Production: Ehime (Uwajima — major farmer), Mie, Kumamoto, Nagasaki.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Ceremonial whole tai for weddings/New Year.
Premium sushi/sashimi.
Tai-meshi Ehime regional specialty.
Tai-no-arani simmered.
Premium gift retail (Akashi-dai, Naruto-dai).
For OEM: ceremonial whole tai supply, sushi-grade fillet, regional gift retail.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Wild/farmed disclosure essential. Regional brands. Fish allergen recommended.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche premium specialty in Japanese-cuisine channels. |
|---|---|
| USA | Established US Japanese-cuisine specialty. |
| China | Established global trade. |
| Korea | Established Korean dom (도미) tradition. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of wild/farmed and regional origin.
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — まだい 各形態
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.