Japonity Research · TradeA sourcing catalogue of Japanese food & drink already on shelves overseas — what you can buy abroad, and what you can wholesale, with the export rules and the people who move it.
From shelf-stable snacks that ship anywhere to cold-chain wagyu that needs an approved abattoir, Japanese food & drink exports fall into seven families. The numbers below are how many products we profile in each.
Sake, shochu, whisky, beer, umeshu — the highest-value export category.
Green tea & matcha, RTD tea, soft drinks (Ramune, Calpis), coffee.
Soy sauce, miso, dashi, mirin, mayo, curry roux, wasabi, sauces.
Rice, instant & fresh noodles, panko, nori & seaweed, tofu, natto.
KitKat & chocolate, Pocky, Hi-Chew, rice crackers, wagashi, mochi.
A5 wagyu, scallops (the #1 export), tuna, uni, eel, frozen gyoza.
Premium fruit, yuzu, umeboshi, retort meals, supplements, mochi ice cream.
Filter all 1185 products by category, the market you sell in, region, handling (ambient / chilled / frozen / alcohol), export readiness or channel. Click any product for its description, where it's available, and the full wholesale & export sourcing detail — then add the ones you want to your shortlist and request a warm introduction.
Looking for the stores that already sell these to consumers worldwide? → Where the World Buys Japanese Food — a country-by-country directory of 200 overseas e-commerce stores.
¥1.701 trillion (US$10.9bn approx) — agriculture, forestry, fishery & food products combined (2025 (CY, MAFF release Feb 2026)). Government target: Government target ¥2tn by 2025 (MISSED) and ¥5tn by 2030. MAFF strategy: diversify destinations beyond Japanese-affiliated buyers to mainstream local retail/restaurants; scale high-demand items (esp. matcha).. The biggest earners by value:
| Top export item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic beverages (sake/Japanese whisky etc.) | Top export category by value [exact 2025 figure VERIFY] | Sake popular in US; Japanese whisky high unit value. Whisky often exceeds sake in value some years. |
| Scallops (hotate) | Leading single fishery export [2025 figure VERIFY] | Shifted from China to US/SE-Asia/EU processing after 2023 China ban; major recovery driver. |
| Beef (wagyu) | Record export value in 2025 | Strong US demand; China market re-opening in progress (protocol pending). |
| Green tea / matcha | ¥36.3bn in 2024 (+24.6%); further record in 2025 | Matcha boom esp. Europe & US; flagged by MAFF as priority high-demand item. |
| Rice | ¥12.0bn in 2024 (+27.8%, fastest-growing); record again 2025 | Sharpest growth category; premium Japanese rice to foodservice abroad. |
| Yellowtail (buri/hamachi) | Record export value 2025 | Major farmed-fish export, strong US sashimi demand. |
| Sauces & seasonings (soy sauce, miso, etc.) | Steady high-value category [figure VERIFY] | Kikkoman etc.; long-shelf-life, broad market acceptance. |
| Confectionery / snacks | Growing category [figure VERIFY] | Kit-Kat, rice crackers, biscuits; strong Asia demand. |
The wholesale backbone — the trading houses and importer-distributors that carry Japanese food & drink into each region, plus the public bodies (JETRO, MAFF GFP) that help first-time exporters.
The platforms overseas buyers and trading companies actually use to find Japanese suppliers — government B2B portals (JETRO Japan Street, MAFF GFP), trade-show directories (FOODEX), wholesale marketplaces (SUPER DELIVERY) and importer catalogues. Many products above were sourced and verified from these.
What it takes to land Japanese food, alcohol, meat and seafood in each major market — including the post-Fukushima radiation-restriction status, now lifted by most countries.
| Market | Food import | Alcohol | Meat / Wagyu | Seafood | Fukushima status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | FDA oversight. Foreign facility must register with FDA; importer files Prior Notice per shipment; FSVP (Foreign Supplier Verification Program) required for the US importer of record (except alcohol — see below). FDA + CBP entry. | TTB-regulated: importer needs Federal Basic Permit; per-label Certificate of Label Approval (COLA via COLAs Online); sake (>7% ABV flavored/sake) needs formula approval. FDA facility registration still required for the producer + US agent. Alcohol importers exempt from FSVP/UFI. | USDA-FSIS jurisdiction. Japanese beef ELIGIBLE since 2019 (US lifted BSE-era restrictions; Japan recognized 'negligible risk' by WOAH 2013). Establishments must be FSIS-listed. | FDA + NOAA SIMP (Seafood Import Monitoring Program) for certain species; HACCP required for the foreign processor. | Import alert LIFTED — US removed Fukushima-related restrictions (2021); no special radiation certificate required. |
| European Union | EU food law + EU-Japan EPA (in force 2019-02-01, tariff liberalization). Animal-origin & some plant products need health certificate via TRACES NT; products of animal origin only from establishments on the EU Establishment List (Reg. 2021/404/2021/405). | No EU-wide import licence for sake/whisky; comply with labeling (allergens, ABV, lot, importer EU address), excise duties per member state. EPA cut/removed many tariffs. | Japanese beef EXPORTS to EU permitted (EU approved Japan beef establishments; bilateral access advanced from ~2014 onward). Only EU-approved Japanese slaughter/processing plants; official-vet-signed certificate via TRACES. | Only from EU-approved vessels/processing establishments; catch certificate (IUU regulation) + health certificate via TRACES. | Restrictions LIFTED — EU removed all post-Fukushima import controls in 2023 (no more radiation certs / sampling). |
| United Kingdom | Post-Brexit GB regime (FSA). UK-Japan CEPA in force (2021). Products of animal origin need health certificates + (phasing) BTOM (Border Target Operating Model) checks; IPAFFS pre-notification for POAO/high-risk food. | No import licence; HMRC excise duty + duty stamps for spirits; labeling per GB rules (importer GB address). | Japanese beef eligible to GB (mirrors prior EU access); approved establishments + export health certificate. | Catch certificate + health certificate; IPAFFS notification. | Restrictions LIFTED — UK removed remaining Fukushima-related controls in 2022. |
| China (mainland) | GACC-regulated. Overseas manufacturers must register via CIFER (Decrees 248/249; Decree 280 effective 2026-06-01 moves to catalog-based system). 18 high-risk categories (incl. meat, aquatic, dairy) need competent-authority recommendation; low-risk (snacks, beverages, confectionery) self-register. Chinese labeling + import-record filing. | Importable with GACC registration + CIQ inspection + Chinese back-label; sake/whisky face import tariffs + consumption tax. | Japanese beef ban (since 2001 BSE) — China agreed in principle to lift (Nov 2019 animal-health pact) but the protocol is STILL NOT operational [as of mid-2025; final clearance pending]. Effectively wagyu not yet flowing. | China banned ALL Japanese seafood Aug 2023 (post-treated-water release). PARTIALLY lifted 2025 (Japan resumed shipments Nov 2025) but 10 prefectures (Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba) still excluded; recovery slow. | STILL RESTRICTED — China (incl. via the 10-prefecture exclusion) maintains the strictest remaining controls; requires testing/certification for permitted areas. |
| Hong Kong | CFS/FEHD (Centre for Food Safety / Food & Environmental Hygiene Dept). Generally open; high-risk foods (meat, poultry, eggs, milk, frozen confections, game) need prior CFS/FEHD permission + origin health certificate. Marine products: health cert strongly encouraged. | Liquor with >30% ABV dutiable; ≤30% ABV duty-free since 2008. Liquor licence needed for sale, not import per se. Sake/most wine effectively low/zero duty. | Japanese beef ALLOWED — HK partially lifted BSE suspension 2007; currently boneless beef from cattle <30 months with SRM removed permitted. Entry only via Man Kam To (land) or HKIA (air) for meat/poultry/eggs. | Open; health certificate encouraged for marine products; some Japan-origin radiation documentation historically. | STILL RESTRICTED (with China/Macau) — HK retained controls on certain prefectures' products post-2023; among the remaining restrictors [verify current prefecture list]. |
| Taiwan | TFDA (Taiwan FDA) under MOHW. Importer registration; Chinese labeling; standard food-safety inspection at risk-based frequency. | TTL/Finance Ministry framework; import permit + Chinese label + alcohol tax; sake/whisky widely imported. | Japanese beef permitted (Taiwan opened to Japanese beef in 2017). US/Japan beef access historically politically sensitive but currently allowed. | Open with standard inspection. | Restrictions LIFTED Nov 2025 — Taiwan removed special requirements (dual certification + 100% batch testing) for the 5 Fukushima-area prefectures. (Earlier major relaxation Feb 2022; final lift Nov 2025.) |
| South Korea | MFDS (Ministry of Food & Drug Safety). Korean labeling; importer registration; inspection. Generally open for processed food. | MFDS + National Tax Service; high liquor tax (esp. spirits); Korean label + import declaration. Sake/whisky imported but taxed heavily. | Japanese beef BANNED — KR bans ruminant meat from BSE-history countries incl. Japan; Japanese beef NOT permitted (as of 2024). Beef allowed only from a short approved list (AU, CA, US, NZ, etc.). | Japanese fishery products from 8 Fukushima-region prefectures BANNED since 2013; KR confirmed it will KEEP the ban (2023, reaffirmed). Other-region seafood requires radiation certificates. | STILL RESTRICTED — among the few markets keeping Fukushima-era seafood ban (8 prefectures) firmly in place. |
| Singapore | SFA (Singapore Food Agency) — importer must hold SFA licence/registration + per-consignment permits via TradeNet. Risk-based; one of Asia's most open, English-friendly regimes. | SFA + Customs; alcohol import licence + excise/GST; no religious ban; major sake/whisky hub. | Meat/seafood only from SFA-accredited overseas sources/establishments; Japanese beef permitted from accredited plants. | From SFA-accredited sources; health certificates. | Restrictions LIFTED 2021 — Singapore removed Fukushima-related controls (early lifter). |
| Thailand | Thai FDA (MoPH) — import licence + product registration (FDA number) for many processed foods; Thai labeling. Customs duties vary; JTEPA/AJCEP preferential tariffs available. | Excise Dept licence + high excise/import duty on alcohol; Thai label + health warning; sake/whisky imported but heavily taxed. | DLD (Dept of Livestock Development) import permit + sanitary certificate; Japanese beef permitted via approved establishments/permits. | DOF/Thai FDA controls; health certificates. | Restrictions LIFTED — Thailand removed post-Fukushima controls (lifted 2018-2019 era). Generally open. |
| Malaysia | Ministry of Health (MOH) / Food Safety & Quality Division; importer + product compliance, BM/English labeling. HALAL strongly expected for mainstream retail. | Legal for non-Muslim consumption but high duties + licensing; cannot be Halal; segregated retail. Sake/whisky imported for non-Muslim/tourist/HORECA channels. | STRICT: only from JAKIM+DVS approved Halal slaughterhouses. Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) approved-plant list required; Japanese beef must come from a JAKIM/DVS-approved Halal-certified plant to enter mainstream channels. | Generally permissible (Halal by default if no haram additives); standard import controls. | Restrictions LIFTED — Malaysia among ~90% of markets that removed Fukushima controls. [Confirm no residual cert] |
| Indonesia | BPOM (food/drug authority) registration (ML number for imported processed food) + Indonesian labeling. MANDATORY HALAL certification rolling out (BPJPH): domestic food mandatory since Oct 2024; imported-food enforcement postponed to 2026. | Heavily restricted: import quotas, special licences, very high duties; limited to designated outlets/tourist zones; not Halal. Difficult channel. | BPJPH Halal + plant registration required; only Halal-certified/approved establishments; Japanese beef must be Halal-certified to enter. | Permitted; BPOM + Halal logo (mandatory regime) increasingly required. | Restrictions LIFTED — Indonesia removed post-Fukushima controls. [Confirm residual] |
| UAE / GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) | UAE: MOIAT / municipality + ESMA/Emirates standards; GCC-wide via GSO. Arabic+English labeling, production/expiry dates, importer registration. GSO 2055-1 (Halal General Requirements; 2026 draft update). | Permitted in UAE (esp. Dubai/Abu Dhabi) via licensed importers/distributors + high fees; Saudi Arabia PROHIBITS alcohol entirely. Sake/whisky viable in UAE HORECA/hotel channel only. | HALAL MANDATORY: only from GCC/UAE-approved Halal-certified slaughterhouses (MOIAT-accredited certifier, e.g. NPO Japan Halal Association is GAC/MOIAT-recognized). Japanese beef must be Halal-slaughtered & certified. | Generally Halal-acceptable; standard import + Arabic labeling. | Restrictions LIFTED — UAE/GCC removed post-Fukushima controls. [Confirm residual] |
| Australia | Two layers: DAFF biosecurity import permits/conditions (BICON) + Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS, Imported Food Control Regs 2019). Must meet Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code + Country-of-Origin labeling. Risk-based inspection frequency. | Importable; high WET/excise + GST; labeling per FSANZ; no religious ban; large sake/whisky market. | Strict biosecurity — many meats restricted/conditional; Japanese beef faces stringent biosecurity conditions [VERIFY current eligibility/protocol]. Cooked/retorted product easier than raw. | Biosecurity conditions per species (e.g. prawns, finfish); some processing/certification required. | Restrictions LIFTED in 2014 (early lifter). |
| Canada | CFIA under Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) — importers need an SFCR licence + preventive control plan + traceability; bilingual (English/French) labeling. | Provincial liquor boards (LCBO, SAQ, etc.) are the gatekeepers/monopoly buyers in most provinces; federal excise + provincial markup; sake/whisky imported via provincial listings. | CFIA official certificate required; Japanese beef eligible from CFIA-recognized establishments [verify protocol]; bilingual labeling. | SFCR licence + safety controls; certificates for certain products. | Restrictions LIFTED — Canada removed post-Fukushima controls. |
Approximate Harmonized System codes for the main categories — a starting point for tariff and customs classification (always confirm the exact sub-heading for your product and destination).
| Category | HS code |
|---|---|
| Sake (rice wine / seishu) | 2206.00 (other fermented beverages; US line 2206.00.45 'rice wine or sake') |
| Japanese whisky | 2208.30 (whiskies) |
| Shochu | 2208.90 (other spirituous beverages; some classify 2208.90) |
| Beer | 2203.00 (beer made from malt) |
| Plum wine (umeshu) / other fruit liqueur | 2206.00 or 2208.70 (liqueurs) depending on production |
| Green tea (sencha, loose/leaf, ≤3kg) | 0902.10 (green tea, not fermented, immediate packing ≤3kg); 0902.20 (>3kg) |
| Matcha (powdered green tea) | 0902.10 / 0902.20 (green tea; matcha classed as green tea; some destinations 0902.10.10/.90) |
| Soy sauce (shoyu) | 2103.10 (soya sauce) |
| Miso | 2103.90 (other sauces / mixed condiments & seasonings) |
| Mirin / cooking seasoning | 2103.90 (or 2206.00 if classified as fermented beverage) [VERIFY by product] |
| Wasabi (prepared) | 2103.90 (sauces/condiments); fresh root 0709.99 |
| Dashi / soup stock & seasoning mixes | 2104.10 (soups & broths) or 2103.90 |
| Rice (milled / polished) | 1006.30 (semi-milled or wholly milled rice) |
| Rice (brown / husked) | 1006.20 |
| Instant noodles / ramen / cup noodles | 1902.30 (other pasta, incl. instant/prepared noodles) |
| Udon / soba / dried noodles (uncooked) | 1902.19 (uncooked pasta, no egg) / 1902.11 (with egg) |
| Nori / dried seaweed (laver) | 1212.21 (seaweeds & algae fit for human consumption); prepared nori snacks may be 2008.99 / 1212.21 [VERIFY] |
| Kombu / wakame / other edible seaweed | 1212.21 |
| Wagyu / beef (boneless, fresh/chilled) | 0201.30 (boneless, fresh or chilled) |
| Wagyu / beef (boneless, frozen) | 0202.30 |
| Scallops (live/fresh/chilled) | 0307.21 |
| Scallops (frozen) | 0307.22 |
| Tuna (fresh/chilled) | 0302.3x (by species, e.g. 0302.35 bluefin) |
| Tuna (frozen) | 0303.4x (by species) |
| Yellowtail / amberjack (buri/hamachi) | 0302.89 / 0303.89 (other fish, fresh / frozen); fillets 0304 |
| Fish fillets / sashimi-grade fillets | 0304 (fish fillets & meat, fresh/chilled/frozen) |
| Sea urchin (uni) | 0308.90 (other aquatic invertebrates); prepared 1605.xx |
| Sugar confectionery (candy, no cocoa) | 1704.90 |
| Chocolate / cocoa confectionery (e.g. Kit-Kat) | 1806.90 (other chocolate preparations) |
| Rice crackers (senbei) / baked snacks | 1905.90 (other bakers' wares incl. crispbread/crackers) |
| Biscuits / cookies (sweet) | 1905.31 |
| Mochi / rice-based confectionery | 1904.90 / 1905.90 [VERIFY by composition] |
| Fruit (fresh apples, e.g. Aomori) | 0808.10 (apples); pears 0808.30; grapes 0806.10; strawberries 0810.10; persimmon 0810.70 |
| Cultured pearls | 7101.21 (unworked) / 7101.22 (worked) — counted in MAFF fishery basket |
Wholesale flow: Standard chain: Japanese manufacturer/producer (or domestic wholesaler e.g. Kokubu/Mitsubishi Shokuhin for consolidation) -> Japanese EXPORTER/trading house (handles export docs, GACC/COLA/TRACES paperwork, consolidation) -> OVERSEAS IMPORTER of record (customs clearance, FSVP/SFA/BPOM compliance, local labeling) -> in-market DISTRIBUTOR/wholesaler (e.g. JFC, Wismettac, Mutual Trading, Tazaki) -> RETAIL (supermarkets, Asian grocers) + FOODSERVICE (Japanese restaurants, sushi chains, hotels). Vertically-integrated players (JFC, Wismettac, Mutual Trading) span exporter+importer+distributor in one group. Sogo shosha (Mitsubishi/Itochu/etc.) often finance & forward large flows.
Minimum orders: Ambient/dry goods: MOQ usually by CASE then PALLET; small new buyers via mixed LCL (less-than-container-load) consolidation; established orders move FCL (full container) — 20ft (~10-11 pallets) or 40ft/40HC (~20-21 pallets). A single SKU FCL is common for fast movers (rice, sauces, noodles, snacks). Importer-distributors like JFC/Wismettac aggregate many SKUs per container. Alcohol often by case/pallet building to FCL. Chilled/frozen: reefer container FCL or shared reefer LCL; premium fresh (uni, fresh wagyu) by airfreight in small lots. Typical small-buyer entry: a few pallets mixed LCL, or buy locally from an in-market distributor's existing stock (no import needed).
Cold chain: Three tiers: (1) AMBIENT (dry) — most processed Japanese food (sauces, noodles, snacks, tea, sake/whisky) ships ambient by ocean FCL/LCL — cheapest, 2-6 wk transit. (2) CHILLED/FROZEN OCEAN — reefer containers (set -18C frozen / 0-5C chilled) for seafood, wagyu, frozen prepared foods; Yamato International Cool TA-Q-BIN for small parcels next-day to Asian cities; Nippon Express / NYK / ONE / Maersk reefer for FCL. (3) AIRFREIGHT — for highly perishable fresh/chilled premium (fresh fish/uni/sashimi-grade, fresh fruit, fresh wagyu) needing 1-3 day delivery; temperature-controlled ULDs; high cost, used for high-value-per-kg. · Incoterms: Most common in Japanese F&B export: FOB (Free On Board, Japanese port — seller clears export, buyer arranges main freight; very common baseline) and CIF (Cost Insurance Freight, destination port — seller arranges to port). CFR/CNF also used. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) requested by buyers wanting turnkey/door delivery but shifts all import burden to seller — less common for small Japanese exporters. EXW (Ex Works) sometimes for buyers with own forwarder. For airfreight: FCA / CIP. Recommend Incoterms 2020 terms explicitly with named port (e.g. 'FOB Yokohama, Incoterms 2020').
Getting started: For a small overseas buyer/importer: (1) EASIEST — buy from an in-market Japanese-food distributor already importing (JFC, Wismettac, Mutual Trading in US; Tazaki/Wismettac-Harro in UK/EU) — no import paperwork. (2) MATCHMAKING — register interest with JETRO (free buyer matchmaking, market reports) and the MAFF GFP project to be connected to verified Japanese exporters. (3) TRADE SHOWS — attend FOODEX Japan (Tokyo Big Sight, every March; Asia's #1 F&B show, 80,000+ visitors) via JETRO's Buyer Invitation Program; also Virtual FOODEX online matchmaking, and JFEX/'Japan's Food' Export Fair. (4) DIRECT — source exporters via JETRO directories / EAT-JAPAN trade directory, then handle your own import compliance (FSVP/COLA in US; TRACES/establishment-listing in EU; SFA in SG; GACC/CIFER in CN; Halal+BPOM/JAKIM in ID/MY). (5) Start with AMBIENT processed goods + LCL to minimize cold-chain/MOQ risk before scaling to FCL/reefer.
Catalogue as of May 2026; product availability, brand ownership, market access and regulations change constantly — verify current rules and supply with the maker, exporter or the destination authority before contracting. Method: multi-source desk research across maker sites, MAFF/JETRO data and trade press. Japonity is not affiliated with the companies or brands listed, and this is general information, not regulatory or legal advice.
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