Ibonoito Tenobe Somen

Ibonoito (揖保乃糸) · Japan (Hyogo, Banshu/Tatsuno region)
Staples Fresh & Dried Noodles Ambient Established export

Japan's premier hand-pulled (tenobe) somen brand from the Banshu region, with a 600+ year tradition and an 11-step, 2-day handmade process. Japan's largest hand-pulled somen producer. Exports ~90 MT/yr (small but growing) chiefly to the US West Coast (large Japanese-American base), plus rising sales to Korea (now in major Korean supermarkets) and Vietnam. The artisanal premium thin-noodle export icon.

The supplierHyogo Prefecture Tenobe Somen Cooperative Association (~400 producers) makes Ibonoito, Japan's most prestigious hand-stretched somen with 600+ years of regional heritage and strict grading. Strong premium/gift export; B2B/English via the cooperative and importers.
Why it sells abroadThe benchmark premium hand-stretched somen with 600-year Banshu heritage and a strict grading system — the prestige gift and fine-dining somen no commodity product can rival.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsNo public Halal/Organic-JAS/Kosher cert found. Confirmed: GI (Geographical Indication) registration, and International Taste Institute award (3-star, 15 consecutive years). Cooperative grade system confirmed (premium/upper grades, obi-color grading). HACCP at packing: not publicly verified for the cooperative as a whole.
Pack formats50g hand-stretched bundles; retail/gift boxes by bundle count; case packs (keep draft).
Shelf lifeLong ambient shelf life; aged 'hineimono' somen is valued (~2-3 years typical; not maker-stated on official site).
StorageAmbient, dry, away from odors/humidity.
Minimum orderTypical: importer case/pallet; FCL for volume.
Lead timeTypical: 3–5 weeks ex-Japan.
CapacityTypical: cooperative of ~400 producers — substantial but seasonal/quality-graded output.
Container loadTypical: dried, light — 20ft volume-limited ~1,500–2,000 cases; FCL ambient.
PricingEstimate: USD 6–15/retail box wholesale depending on grade; premium gift tier.
OEM / private labelBrand/cooperative-managed to protect the Ibonoito brand; limited OEM, gift co-packing by arrangement (keep draft; not separately verifiable).
Wholesale & MOQCooperative export + specialty importers (iRASSHAi, Nishikidori, Japanese Taste); MOQ case to pallet
Key exporters & distributorsHyogo Tenobe Somen Cooperative, Banshu Noodle Export Association members
Export regulationWheat allergen labeling; origin/grade labeling
Market demandPremium/gift and fine-dining demand in US/KR/VN/FR/GB Japanese retail; authentic-Japanese and summer-noodle positioning.
How to source itHyogo Tenobe Somen Cooperative / licensed exporters; importers JFC, Wismettac; overseas promotion confirmed in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, NY, LA, Hawaii.
Verified sourceshttps://www.ibonoito.or.jp/; International Taste Institute 3-star award (15 yrs); GI registration per official site
MakerHyogo Prefecture Tenobe Somen Cooperative Association (~400 producers)
OriginJapan (Hyogo, Banshu/Tatsuno region)
CategoryStaples / Fresh & Dried Noodles
Available inUnited States, South Korea, Vietnam +2 more
HandlingAmbient
Price tierPremium
ChannelPremium/Gift
Export readinessEstablished export
HS code1902.19
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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.