Marine functional ingredients
Functional ingredients from Japan's rich marine heritage — fucoidan, Okinawa mozuku fucoidan, salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan, astaxanthin, L-theanine.
6 ingredients in this category.
- Active component2 suppliers
Fucoidan
フコイダン
Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweeds, most commonly mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) from Okinawa and kombu (Saccharina japonica) from Hokkaidō. Studied for moisturizing, immune-modulating, and antioxidant positioning. Sold as both a cosmetic ingredient and a functional food supplement.
Okinawa (mozuku), Hokkaidō (kombu) +1MOQ 1–10 kg - Active component5 suppliers
Astaxanthin
アスタキサンチン
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment produced primarily by microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis), known for strong antioxidant capacity. Japanese production pioneered by Fuji Chemical Industry and ENEOS uses closed-system microalgae cultivation. Multiple Japanese FFC notifications cite astaxanthin for eye health, skin health, and antioxidant support.
Nationwide production facilitiesMOQ 1–10 kg (oil-based concentrate) - Active component5 suppliers
Salmon Nasal Cartilage Proteoglycan
サケ鼻軟骨プロテオグリカン
Proteoglycan extracted from salmon nasal cartilage, developed at Hirosaki University in Aomori Prefecture. Water-retention capacity approximately 1.3 times that of hyaluronic acid.
Aomori PrefectureMOQ 100 g – 10 kg - Active component5 suppliers
Okinawa Mozuku Fucoidan
沖縄モズク由来フコイダン
Sulfated polysaccharide from Okinawa mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus). Highest fucoidan content among commercial seaweeds (up to 85-90% purity).
Okinawa Prefecture (Ishigaki, Miyako, Onna, Kumejima)MOQ 1-100 kg (powder, extract) - Active component3 suppliers
L-Theanine
L-テアニン
Amino acid unique to tea (Camellia sinensis). Commercial production led by Taiyo Kagaku's enzymatic method.
Mie Prefecture (Taiyo Kagaku)MOQ 1-100 kg (pharmaceutical-grade powder) - Active component2 suppliers
Pearl Hydrolysate
真珠加水分解物
Pearl protein (conchiolin) and mineral compounds extracted from akoya pearl oysters and shells. Mikimoto Pharmaceutical (ISO 22716 certified) developed multiple proprietary pearl-derived ingredients since 1966 and offers skincare OEM services.
Mie (Ise-Shima), Ehime (Uwajima) +2MOQ 100 g – 1 kg (extract); custom via OEM partnership
FAQ: sourcing marine functional ingredients from Japan
Q. What makes Japanese marine functional ingredients (fucoidan, mozuku, proteoglycan) globally competitive?
Japan dominates marine bioactive R&D, particularly in fucoidan (sulfated polysaccharide from kombu/mozuku), Okinawa-sourced fucoidan-rich mozuku, and salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan. These have multiple FFC notifications and are featured in published peer-reviewed studies. Many are exclusively produced in Japan.
Sources
- CAA — Foods with Function Claims database (proteoglycan, fucoidan)
- PubMed — fucoidan and proteoglycan clinical research
Q. Are Japanese marine ingredients tested for radiation since the 2011 Fukushima incident?
Yes. All major marine ingredient suppliers from Japan have provided radiation test certificates as standard since 2011. Most products are sourced from Hokkaido, Okinawa, or western Japan (Kyushu, Shikoku) — far from the 2011 affected zone — and routinely test below EU/US/China import limits. COA with radiation results is standard.
Sources
- MHLW — Food radioactivity standards
- Japan Fisheries Agency monitoring program
Q. What's the typical MOQ for fucoidan extract or proteoglycan?
Premium marine actives like fucoidan and proteoglycan typically start at 1–5 kg for samples and 10–25 kg for commercial orders. Pricing is high (¥10,000–50,000/kg range) reflecting low yield and proprietary extraction processes. R&D quantities are usually available.
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese marine ingredient suppliers
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Q. Can Japanese marine ingredients be used in vegan products?
Plant-derived marine ingredients (kombu, mozuku-derived fucoidan, sea grape extract) are vegan. Animal-derived marine ingredients (salmon proteoglycan, shark cartilage chondroitin, oyster pearl extract) are not. Confirm source organism before formulating for vegan-positioned products.
Sources
- Industry knowledge — Japanese marine ingredient classification
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source