Ihara Fisheries Co., Ltd.

Proteoglycan extracted from salmon nasal cartilage, developed at Hirosaki University in Aomori Prefecture. Water-retention capacity approximately 1.3 times that of hyaluronic acid.

Hokkaido and the broader northern Pacific produce ~60% of global Yesso scallops (Mizuhopecten yessoensis). Domestic Japanese consumption focuses on sashimi-grade adductor muscle; export volume drives substantial supply for premium frozen retail in China, Taiwan, and the US. Beyond the meat itself, Japanese R&D has commercialised scallop-derived supply chains — proteoglycan-rich shell powder used in cosmetic exfoliants, marine collagen extracted from scallop tissues, and calcium-fortified food ingredients from shell. Distinct from the existing 'hokkaido-marine-collagen' (which is fish-derived).

Japanese coastal abalone — Haliotis discus hannai (Ezo abawbi, northern coastal) and H. gigantea (Madaka abalone, central / southern). Iwate, Miyagi, and Chiba dominate northern wild-harvest, while controlled aquaculture in Mie and Wakayama produces the majority of farmed supply. Domestic Japanese consumption focuses on sashimi-grade live, dried (hoshi-awabi for kaiseki), and increasingly canned for export. The shell mother-of-pearl (rakuden) is upcycled into cosmetic exfoliant powders and jewellery-craft inputs. Distinct from the existing scallop and other shellfish entries.

Rendered fat from wagyu beef carcasses, distinguished by exceptional unsaturated-fatty-acid composition (oleic acid 50-55% vs typical beef tallow ~40%). Japanese rendering by specialty meat processors in Hyogo (Kobe), Saga, Miyazaki, and Hokkaido produces multiple grades — yakiniku-grade tallow for restaurant supply, fine-dining-grade premium fat for chefs and patisserie, and increasingly cosmetic-grade lanolin-style emollient for skincare. Distinct from existing wagyu-related entries.

Sea urchin gonads — Japan's most-prized seafood delicacy, one of the three classic delicacies (sankin) alongside karasumi and konowata. Hokkaido (Rishiri, Rebun, Yoichi) and Iwate dominate Pacific-bafun-uni and ezo-bafun-uni production, while Yamaguchi and Kyushu contribute murasaki-uni. Live-shipping in saltwater commands the highest premium; salt-cured and 'shio-uni' preserved formats serve export markets. Distinct from existing seafood entries.

Juvenile sardine and anchovy fry (typically <30mm), boiled and either eaten fresh, semi-dried (kama-age, chirimen), or fully-dried (chirimen-jako). Shizuoka, Kanagawa, Wakayama, Hyogo, and Kochi are the principal commercial harvest regions. Calcium-rich (~2,000 mg/100g dry) and increasingly used as a calcium-fortification ingredient in functional foods. Distinct from existing niboshi entry (which is a smaller-volume, larger-fish anchovy).

Hydrolysed marine collagen extracted from fugu (Takifugu rubripes) skin — a Yamaguchi Prefecture specialty. Shimonoseki has 80%+ of Japan's commercial fugu industry; fugu-skin upcycled into cosmetic-grade and supplement-grade collagen is a 2010s-onward value-add. Distinct from existing 'hokkaido-marine-collagen' (fish-broad-spectrum) entry. Fugu collagen's high glycine-proline composition gives it favourable bioavailability profiles. Used in beauty drinks, skincare, and joint-health supplements.

Japanese tiger prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus) — a sushi / tempura premium classic. Aquaculture in Yamaguchi (Akamizu Bay), Kumamoto, and Ehime produces the principal commercial supply; wild-harvest in Tokyo Bay and Seto Inland Sea adds smaller volumes. Distinguished from imported tiger prawns by characteristic stripe pattern and richer umami. Used live-shipped for sashimi (odori-ebi), grilled, tempura, and as a feedstock for chitin / chitosan supplement extraction. Distinct from existing shellfish entries.

Male snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) — known as 'Echizen-gani' in Fukui, 'Matsuba-gani' in Tottori-Hyogo, and 'Tsuwai-gani' in Hokkaido. Fukui's Echizen-gani has GI protection and tag-trace certification (yellow tag for Echizen-gani, red tag for top-grade). Female (seko-gani) has separate naming and pricing. Northern Hokkaido and Sea of Japan harvest produces the principal commercial supply. Used live-cooked, frozen retail, and increasingly canned for export.

Pacific bluefin tuna — the most-prized sushi / sashimi tuna in Japanese cuisine. Wild-harvest dominated Japanese supply until aquaculture (notably Maruha Nichiro and Kindai University Tuna) began commercial-scale production around 2010. Aomori (Oma), Iyo Bay (Wakayama), and Mie host the principal commercial harvest. The Tsukiji-Toyosu auction system anchors global tuna pricing. Distinct from less-prized yellowfin (kihada) and bigeye (mebachi) tuna varieties.

Wild-harvest Japanese rock oyster (Crassostrea nippona) — the larger, summer-harvested counterpart to the cultivated 'magaki' (Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas). Distinguished by larger size (often 10-15 cm shell), creamier texture, and summer harvest (June – August) vs magaki winter harvest. Yamagata, Akita, and Niigata along the Sea of Japan coast host the principal commercial wild-harvest. Specialty fine-dining and gift-economy retail. Distinct from existing scallop / abalone / fugu / kuruma-prawn shellfish entries.

Red-meat clam (Scapharca broughtonii) — characteristic deep red colour from haemoglobin (uncommon in molluscs). Sendai Bay (Miyagi), Aomori, and Akita are the principal commercial harvest regions. Used as a sushi / sashimi premium classic; the muscular adductor portion is graded by colour and texture. Distinct from existing seafood entries (scallop, abalone, crab, prawn, octopus / squid). Iron-rich profile drives functional positioning beyond cuisine.

Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) — Japan's autumn-cuisine icon. Hokkaido (Nemuro), Iwate (Ofunato), and Miyagi (Onagawa) are the principal commercial harvest ports. Catches have declined dramatically since 2015 due to changing sea temperatures; supply has shifted toward Taiwan / Russia imports. Used grilled (shio-yaki sanma is autumn-classic), in canned form for export retail, and as a feedstock for fish-oil DHA / EPA extraction. Distinct from existing seafood entries.