Bio'c (Kojiya Sanzaemon) Rice Koji & Koji Spores (Aichi, 600-Year House)

Bio'c · Japan (Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture)
Seasonings Koji & Salt Ambient Established export

Rice koji and koji spores (incl. black koji) from Japan's oldest koji house — Kojiya Sanzaemon, started in Kyoto ~600 years ago — used by fermenters and amazake makers worldwide.

The supplierBio'c is the modern name of Kojiya Sanzaemon, Japan's oldest koji manufacturer (started in Kyoto ~600 years ago), now in Toyohashi, Aichi. Supplies rice koji and tane-koji (koji spores incl. black koji); exported to the US via authorized distributor Amazake Co.
Why it sells abroadOldest koji house in Japan (~600 years); supplies actual koji spores (enables overseas production); authorized US distributor in place

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsMaker confirmed: Bio'c Co., Ltd. (Kojiya Sanzaemon) — oldest koji maker in Japan, originated in Kyoto ~600 years ago, now in Toyohashi/Aichi; holds ~3,000 koji strains; produces in a temperature-controlled clean room. Note: the 'Organic Dried Rice Koji' sold via US distributor Amazake Co. uses JAS-certified organic rice — that organic claim is specific to that finished SKU, NOT to Bio'c's tane-koji spore products generally. No halal/kosher certification publicly verified.
Pack formatsDried rice koji bags; tane-koji (koji-spore) packs across koji types (rice/barley/soybean/shoyu/black/white) via Amazake Co.
Shelf lifeNot publicly specified for export packs (draft estimate spores 6-12 months refrigerated; dried koji several months retained)
StorageRefrigerate spores; cool storage for dried koji
Minimum orderTypical: case via Amazake Co. wholesale
Lead timeTypical: ex-US-distributor stock
CapacityOldest koji manufacturer in Japan
Container loadTypical: LCL/mixed culture load
PricingPremium specialty-ferment tier
OEM / private labelYes — Bio'c is fundamentally a B2B tane-koji (seed-koji) spore and culture supplier to brewers/fermenters (sake, miso, mirin, shoyu, vinegar); ~3,000 strains supplied industry-wide
Wholesale & MOQTrue
Key exporters & distributorsBio'c Co., Ltd., Amazake Co.
Export regulationLive-culture/microbial product import docs; allergen labeling; FDA prior notice (US).
Market demandBooming home/craft fermentation and craft-koji demand
How to source itBio'c (Toyohashi, Aichi) -> Amazake Co. (US authorized distributor) / Bio'c direct -> brewers, fermenters & retail
Verified sourceshttps://www.bioc.co.jp/en/; https://amazakeco.com/collections/koji-spores-tane-koji; https://amazakeco.com/products/organic-dried-white-rice-koji
MakerBio'c Co., Ltd. (Kojiya Sanzaemon)
OriginJapan (Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture)
CategorySeasonings / Koji & Salt
Available inWorldwide
HandlingAmbient
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessEstablished export
HS code2106.90
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.