Food · Fermented foods
Uni (Sea Urchin)
うに (Uni)
Also known as: Uni, Sea urchin, Sea urchin gonads, 海胆, 雲丹, Bafun-uni (red), Murasaki-uni (purple), Ezo-bafun-uni (Hokkaido)
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | うに |
| Common Japanese notations | うに, 海胆, 雲丹, ウニ, バフンウニ, ムラサキウニ, エゾバフンウニ |
| Origin | Sea urchin gonads; harvested in Japanese coastal waters; principal landing regions Hokkaido (Ezo-bafun-uni and murasaki-uni — premium), Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamaguchi (Fukutoshima); significant imports from Russia, Chile, Canada, Mexico for volume sushi-grade supply |
| Typical functions | Ultra-premium sushi/sashimi topping, Uni-don (sea urchin rice bowl), Premium foodservice signature — among the most expensive sushi toppings, Salt-cured uni (en-zō uni / shio-uni) — traditional preserve |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Domestic vs imported origin disclosure essential. **Echinoderm is not a designated JAS allergen** but is recognized as oral allergy trigger. |
Uni (うに / 雲丹) — sea urchin gonads — is one of Japan's ultra-premium seafood with substantial OEM positions: as ultra-premium sushi/sashimi topping (among the most expensive sushi toppings — premium Hokkaido bafun-uni can retail at ¥10,000+ per 100g), as uni-don (sea urchin rice bowl), as premium foodservice signature, and as salt-cured uni (Yamaguchi traditional specialty). Hokkaido leads domestic premium production; significant imports from Russia, Chile, Canada, Mexico supply volume sushi-grade.
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 box-uni (premium foodservice)
- Frozen uni (foodservice and processed-food)
- Salt-cured uni jar retail (Yamaguchi traditional specialty)
What it is
Sea urchin gonads. Multiple species: bafun-uni (red), murasaki-uni (purple), Ezo-bafun-uni (Hokkaido).
Production: Hokkaido (premium), Tohoku, Yamaguchi domestic. Russia, Chile, Canada, Mexico imports.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Ultra-premium sushi/sashimi topping.
Uni-don sea urchin rice bowl.
Premium foodservice signature.
Salt-cured uni (Yamaguchi traditional).
For OEM: fresh box-uni cold-chain supply, frozen retail, salt-cured Yamaguchi traditional retail.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Domestic vs imported origin essential. Not a JAS-mandatory allergen.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Imported as sea urchin / uni. |
|---|---|
| USA | Established US uni retail and sushi industry. |
| China | Premium specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Korea has its own seongge (성게) tradition. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after verification of species, origin, and product format.
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From the same origin
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References
- MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — うに 各形態
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.