Why source from Japan
Naruto Strait's tidal currents produce wakame with firmness and color no other origin matches; designated regional brand under Tokushima.
Key spec
Iodine 100-300 mg/100g dry; alginate 25-35%; fucoxanthin 0.05-0.15%.
Typical end-product
Premium retail wakame for export, miso-soup blend, fucoxanthin-positioned supplements.
At a glance
- Suppliers listed
- 2 suppliers
- Typical MOQ
- 10–50 kg dried; 100 kg fresh-salted; 5–25 kg extract
- Typical lead time
- 4–8 weeks
- Regions of origin
- Tokushima (Naruto Strait), Hyogo (Awaji)
- Category
- Marine functional ingredients
- Harvest season
- February – April
- Japan regulatory status
- Food product; iodine-content disclosure under Japan food labelling rules
- INCI name
- Undaria Pinnatifida Extract
- Japanese name
- 鳴門わかめ
- Romaji
- Naruto Wakame
About this ingredient
Premium-grade wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) harvested in the Naruto Strait (between Tokushima and Awaji Island). The strong tidal currents in this strait produce wakame with thicker, firmer texture and brighter green color than other origins. Naruto Wakame is a designated regional brand under Tokushima's branding programme. The premium texture commands 2-3× the price of mainstream wakame in retail. Distinct from existing 'fucoidan' (which is the active component) and 'okinawa-mozuku-fucoidan'. Used in soup, salad, and as a feedstock for fucoxanthin / mineral-rich supplement extracts.
Regulatory status
| Japan | Food product; iodine-content disclosure under Japan food labelling rules |
|---|---|
| EU | Food import; iodine cap monitoring (EU recommends ≤600 µg/day) |
| United States | GRAS for food; FDA Prior Notice required |
| China | GACC food facility registration; verify iodine compliance |
Looking for alternatives?
Common reasons buyers swap to a different ingredient — and what we'd suggest based on this ingredient's profile.
Vegan / plant-based alternatives
Naruto Wakame is animal-derived. If you need a non-animal source with similar functions, consider:
Sansho Pepper
山椒
Zanthoxylum piperitum source; INCI Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract; MOQ from 1–10 kg (dried peppercorn); 100 g – 5 kg (powder).
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Wasabi Powder
山葵粉末
Wasabia japonica (Eutrema japonicum) source; INCI Wasabia Japonica Root Powder; MOQ from 1–10 kg (powder); 100 kg+ (bulk paste).
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Fucoidan
フコイダン
INCI Fucoidan (from various brown seaweeds); MOQ from 1–10 kg.
Plant-based· shares 2 categories
Easier China regulatory path
Naruto Wakame faces a more restrictive regulatory pathway in China. These alternatives have a simpler status in that market:
Akamoku (Gulfweed Seaweed)
アカモク
Fucoxanthin 0.05-0.3% dry weight; soluble dietary fibre 30-40%; alginate 15-25%.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Nigari (Bittern / Magnesium Chloride)
にがり
Magnesium chloride 60–95% (varies by source); pH 6.5–7.5; coagulation rate ideal 0.4–0.7% in soy milk for tofu.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
Kanten (Agar)
寒天
Gel strength 600–1,000 g/cm² (varies by grade); galactose-rich polysaccharide; ash content <5% for premium grades.
Simpler in China· shares 3 categories
When does it make sense to swap an ingredient? Read the swap guide →
Japanese suppliers
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Last updated: 2026-05-05