Food · Fermented foods
Nishin (Pacific Herring)
にしん (Nishin)
Also known as: Nishin, Pacific herring, Clupea pallasii, 鰊, Mi-gaki nishin (dried), Kazunoko (herring roe — separate product)
Looking for a Japanese supplier of Nishin (Pacific Herring)? Tell usAt a glance
| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | にしん |
| Common Japanese notations | にしん, 鰊, ニシン, 数の子, 身欠きにしん |
| Origin | Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii); historically major Hokkaido fishery, but stocks declined significantly in late 20th century; modern supply largely Russian, Canadian, USA imports; kazunoko (herring roe) paired premium product for Osechi New Year |
| Typical functions | Mi-gaki nishin (dried split herring) — Kyoto soba topping (nishin-soba) signature, Kazunoko salt-cured roe — Osechi central element, Nishin-zuke pickled retail, Smoked herring |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Imported origin (Russia, Canada, USA) disclosure essential. Fish allergen recommended. |
Nishin (にしん / 鰊) — Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) — is principally imported from Russia, Canada, USA following Hokkaido stock decline. OEM applications: mi-gaki nishin (dried) for Kyoto nishin-soba signature, and kazunoko (salt-cured roe) for Osechi New Year cuisine.
Find OEM manufacturers
Browse Japanese OEM manufacturers that build products in this category. Filter by small lot, certifications, prefecture.
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.
- Mi-gaki nishin retail
- Kazunoko premium retail (Osechi major)
Ingredient profile
Clupea pallasii Pacific herring.
OEM applications
Mi-gaki nishin for Kyoto nishin-soba.
Kazunoko Osechi central.
Nishin-zuke pickled.
For OEM: mi-gaki nishin retail, kazunoko production OEM.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Imported origin disclosure. Fish allergen recommended.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Major established global herring trade. |
|---|---|
| USA | Major US Atlantic and Pacific herring industries. |
| China | Established global trade. |
| Korea | Established trade. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification of origin.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Quick answers
- What is Nishin (Pacific Herring)?
- Nishin (にしん / 鰊) — Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) — is principally imported from Russia, Canada, USA following Hokkaido stock decline. OEM applications: mi-gaki nishin (dried) for Kyoto nishin-soba signature, and kazunoko (salt-cured roe) for Osechi New Year cuisine.
- What is the regulatory status of Nishin (Pacific Herring) in Japan?
- Standard food labeling. Imported origin (Russia, Canada, USA) disclosure essential. Fish allergen recommended.
- What products typically use Nishin (Pacific Herring)?
- Mi-gaki nishin retail / Kazunoko premium retail (Osechi major)
- Where does Nishin (Pacific Herring) come from?
- Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii); historically major Hokkaido fishery, but stocks declined significantly in late 20th century; modern supply largely Russian, Canadian, USA imports; kazunoko (herring roe) paired premium product for Osechi New Year
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Nishin (Pacific Herring)?
- JSCI: にしん
Related ingredients — substitutes, pairings, processing chain
Often used with
Ingredients frequently paired in the same recipe or formulation.
Same category
Other ingredients in the same sub-category.
Explore related ingredients
Used in similar product applications
Other ingredients commonly used in the same finished-product families.
Abura-age (Fried Thin Tofu)
油揚げ
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Agemaki (Jackknife Clam)
あげまき
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Ago Dashi (Flying Fish Stock)
あごだし
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Ahiru-niku (Domestic Duck)
あひる 肉
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Aigamo-niku (Hybrid Duck)
かも あいがも 肉
Seasonings & saucesFermented foods
Sharing similar functions
Ingredients that overlap on functional benefit tags.
From the same origin
Other ingredients that share an origin classification.
Manufacturers mentioning this ingredient
Japanese OEM factories whose published profile references this ingredient. Auto-detected from manufacturer descriptions; verify capabilities directly.
Related guides & how-to
Related case studies
Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
Search the academic literature
Pre-filled queries for the major research databases. Opens in a new tab.
Official regulatory databases
External links to public Japanese / international regulatory authorities. We are not affiliated.
References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — にしん
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.