Food · Fermented foods

Shiro-sake (Chum Salmon)

しろさけ (Shiro-sake)

Also known as: Shiro-sake, Chum salmon, Keta salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, 白鮭, Aki-sake, Akiaji

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling nameしろさけ
Common Japanese notationsしろさけ, 白鮭, シロサケ, 秋鮭, あきあじ
OriginChum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta); the principal Japanese-native salmon, harvested in Hokkaido and Tohoku coastal waters; autumn run (aki-sake / aki-aji); ikura (salmon roe) is paired commercial product
Typical functionsSalt-cured shio-zake (volume household and bento staple), Sake-no-arani (head/bone simmered), Smoked salmon, Ikura (salmon roe) — major paired premium category
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. Hokkaido domestic origin essential for premium positioning. **Salmon is JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** Ikura paired premium product.

Shiro-sake (しろさけ / 白鮭) — chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) — is the principal Japanese-native salmon. Hokkaido autumn run is the heritage harvest. Volume retail (salt-cured shio-zake), smoked salmon, sake-no-arani applications. Ikura (salmon roe) is the paired premium category.

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Salt-cured shio-zake retail (volume)
  • Frozen and fresh fillet retail
  • Ikura premium retail

What it is

Oncorhynchus keta chum salmon, Japan's principal native salmon.

Typical uses in Japanese products

Salt-cured shio-zake — volume staple.

Smoked salmon.

Sake-no-arani.

Ikura premium retail.

For OEM: salt-cured retail OEM, smoked salmon OEM, ikura production.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Hokkaido origin disclosure. Salmon allergen recommended.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUEstablished global salmon trade. Salmon allergen mandatory.
USAMajor US wild Pacific salmon industry. Salmon allergen mandatory.
ChinaEstablished global trade.
KoreaEstablished Korean salmon market.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification of Hokkaido or other 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.

Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — しろさけ 各形態

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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