Food · Fermented foods
Namako (Sea Cucumber)
なまこ (Namako)
Also known as: Namako, Sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus, 海鼠, Ao-namako (green), Aka-namako (red), Konowata (gut paste), Konoko (gonad)
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | なまこ |
| Common Japanese notations | なまこ, 海鼠, ナマコ, 青ナマコ, 赤ナマコ, このわた, このこ |
| Origin | Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus); harvested in Japanese coastal waters; winter season; principal regions Aomori, Hokkaido, Yamaguchi; high-value associated products: konowata (gut paste — one of Japan's three great chinmi delicacies) and konoko (gonad — ultra-premium delicacy) |
| Typical functions | Premium foodservice — sliced raw with vinegar (su-no-mono), Konowata (salt-cured gut paste) — chinmi delicacy, Konoko (gonad) — ultra-premium chinmi, Dried namako export to China (volume premium gourmet) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Hokkaido and Aomori premium regional brands. Not a designated allergen. |
Namako (なまこ / 海鼠) — sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) — is a premium Japanese marine invertebrate with substantial OEM positions: as fresh winter foodservice (sliced raw with vinegar), as konowata (salt-cured gut paste — one of Japan's three great chinmi delicacies), as konoko (ultra-premium gonad), and as dried namako (export to China where dried sea cucumber is a major gourmet category).
Classification
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Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Fresh namako (winter foodservice)
- Konowata premium retail
- Dried namako (Chinese-market premium export)
What it is
Apostichopus japonicus sea cucumber. Color variants ao-namako (green) and aka-namako (red).
Typical uses in Japanese products
Fresh winter foodservice — su-no-mono.
Konowata gut paste chinmi.
Konoko ultra-premium chinmi.
Dried namako Chinese export.
For OEM: konowata production OEM, dried namako export production.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Domestic origin disclosure essential. Not a designated allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty positioning. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | China is major dried namako (海参) gourmet market — Japanese-origin commands premium. |
| Korea | Korea has substantial haesam tradition. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of origin.
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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 — なまこ
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.