Food · Fermented foods
Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt)
わかさぎ (Wakasagi)
Also known as: Wakasagi, Japanese pond smelt, Hypomesus nipponensis, 公魚, 若鷺
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| Japanese labeling name | わかさぎ |
| Common Japanese notations | わかさぎ, 公魚, 若鷺, ワカサギ |
| Origin | Japanese pond smelt (Hypomesus nipponensis); freshwater lake species; principal harvest regions Lake Suwa (Nagano), Lake Kawaguchi (Yamanashi), Lake Abashiri and Lake Akan (Hokkaido); winter ice-fishing tradition (the famous wakasagi-tsuri) |
| Typical functions | Wakasagi-no-karaage and wakasagi-no-tempura — defining preparations, Heritage winter ice-fishing tourism cuisine |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Standard food labeling. Lake-name origin disclosure for premium positioning. Fish allergen recommended. |
Wakasagi (わかさぎ / 公魚) — Japanese pond smelt — is a small freshwater lake fish with iconic winter ice-fishing tradition. Lake Suwa (Nagano), Kawaguchi (Yamanashi), Abashiri and Akan (Hokkaido) are heritage areas. Karaage and tempura are defining preparations.
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Classification
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Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Frozen wakasagi retail
- Pre-prepared karaage retail
Ingredient profile
Hypomesus nipponensis Japanese pond smelt.
OEM applications
Karaage and tempura.
Tourism heritage cuisine.
For OEM: frozen retail and karaage production.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Standard food labeling. Lake origin disclosure. Fish allergen recommended.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Niche specialty positioning. |
|---|---|
| USA | Niche specialty positioning. |
| China | Niche specialty positioning. |
| Korea | Niche specialty positioning. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification of lake 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 Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt)?
- Wakasagi (わかさぎ / 公魚) — Japanese pond smelt — is a small freshwater lake fish with iconic winter ice-fishing tradition. Lake Suwa (Nagano), Kawaguchi (Yamanashi), Abashiri and Akan (Hokkaido) are heritage areas. Karaage and tempura are defining preparations.
- What is the regulatory status of Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt) in Japan?
- Standard food labeling. Lake-name origin disclosure for premium positioning. Fish allergen recommended.
- What products typically use Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt)?
- Frozen wakasagi retail / Pre-prepared karaage retail
- Where does Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt) come from?
- Japanese pond smelt (Hypomesus nipponensis); freshwater lake species; principal harvest regions Lake Suwa (Nagano), Lake Kawaguchi (Yamanashi), Lake Abashiri and Lake Akan (Hokkaido); winter ice-fishing tradition (the famous wakasagi-tsuri)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Wakasagi (Japanese Pond Smelt)?
- JSCI: わかさぎ
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References
- 文部科学省 (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Standard Tables of Food Composition — わかさぎ
Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.