Yamada Bee Farm

What Yamada Bee Farm does

Yamada Bee Farm (山田養蜂場) is a privately held, family-owned Japanese manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer built around bee-derived products, founded in 1948 in Okayama Prefecture and led today by Representative Director Yamada Hideo. The group operates a 10+ wholly-owned subsidiary structure spanning beekeeping/agritourism (Yamada Mitsubachi Farm), cosmetics manufacturing (Yamada Bee Cosmetics), communications/media, retail, immune-analysis research, restaurant services, and employment services for persons with disabilities.

The company's product platform is organized into three core categories: (1) health supplements built on royal jelly, propolis, bee larvae, bee pollen and related derivatives; (2) cosmetics including the RJ skincare and RJ Excellent (quasi-drug anti-aging) lines, the HONEY LAB line featuring a proprietary honey fermentation extract developed over six years using honey-derived lactic acid bacteria YB38, plus men's (Mr. PROPOLIS), haircare, and BEE MAKE color lines; and (3) natural foods including premium honey, beeswax wraps, and curated gift assortments. Underlying technical differentiators include strict sub-45°C temperature-controlled processing to preserve honey nutrients and a proprietary quality regime that exceeds Germany's Reinheitsgebot (300+ pesticide tests, antibiotic screening, carbon-isotope authenticity verification).

Commercial revenue is generated through a hybrid DTC model: the proprietary e-commerce site 3838.com, subscription (定期購入) pricing that offers ~15% recurring discounts across premium skincare sets priced ¥13,200–¥18,150, company-operated and department-store retail counters (Takashimaya, Odakyu, Seibu), standalone stores including an Odakyu Machida location, airport/gift-shop distribution, traditional catalog and phone-order (0120-00-3838), and wholesale to major Japanese drug and variety chains. Primary customer segments are Japanese health-conscious consumers, beauty-conscious female consumers, gift purchasers, and an aging-population cohort (50s–70s) targeted with anti-aging skincare and the new "Non-Alz Bee" functional cognitive-support food developed in partnership with UCLA's Dr. Dale Bredesen. Geographic revenue is concentrated in Japan, with international operations limited to CSR activities in Cambodia, Nepal, China, and Korea rather than core sales.

Name

Yamada Bee Farm

Legal name

株式会社山田養蜂場

Website

https://3838.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yamada Bee Farm (山田養蜂場) is a Japanese family-owned manufacturer and direct-to-consumer retailer of bee-derived health supplements, cosmetics, and natural foods, serving health-conscious Japanese consumers and the aging population through e-commerce (3838.com), physical retail, catalog, and subscription channels. Founded 1948 in Okayama Prefecture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health and Beauty Supplements

NAICS

Apiculture (11291), Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing (3113)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Added Bee Products Manufacturing (Candles, Cosmetics, Supplements, Mead Ingredients) (AFAEAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Royal Jelly Production (AFAEAHAC)

Keywords

• Bee-derived health supplements
• Royal jelly cosmetics
• Natural honey products
• Propolis supplements
• Honey fermentation skincare

Headquarters

HQ city

Okayama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Direct Sales: Direct-to-consumer online sales through official website www.3838.com, offering health supplements, cosmetics, and honey products with subscription (定期購入) options for regular customers.
2. Physical Retail Stores: Company-operated retail stores and department store counters across Japan, including flagship stores in major cities and airport locations.
3. Catalog/Mail Order Sales: Traditional catalog-based ordering system with phone and written order capabilities, targeting customers who prefer offline purchasing channels.
4. Wholesale to Retailers: Wholesale distribution of honey and bee products to major variety stores and drug stores across Japan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Yamada Bee Farm manufactures and sells health supplements (royal jelly, propolis, bee larvae, and bee pollen-based products), cosmetics/skincare (RJ Series, RJ Excellent anti-aging, Honey Lab fermentation-based line), and natural honey and food products. The company sells direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce site (www.3838.com), own physical stores, department store counters, catalog orders, and wholesale to Japanese retailers, with subscription (定期購入) options across multiple product categories.

Product overview

Yamada Bee Farm operates as a diversified health and beauty company centered on bee products. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Health Foods including Royal Jelly, Propolis, Bee Larvae, and various supplements; (2) Cosmetics spanning multiple brands including RJ basic skincare, RJ Excellent premium anti-aging line, and HONEY LAB honey-based skincare with proprietary fermentation technology; and (3) Natural Foods featuring premium honey products, beeswax items, and fresh foods from company farms. The cosmetics offerings also include specialized lines for men (Mr. PROPOLIS) and makeup (BEE MAKE). The company extends into experiential retail through its farm facility offering agricultural tourism, and provides personalized health services through its immune analysis research center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RJ Skincare Series (RJシリーズ) Core Royal Jelly skincare line including cleansing, toner, essence, cream, and specialized care products for daily moisturizing and basic skin maintenance, for women seeking natural royal-jelly-based skincare.
• RJ Excellent Anti-Aging Series (RJエクセレントシリーズ) Premium anti-aging skincare line with all items classified as quasi-drugs, containing Niacinamide for wrinkle improvement and whitening effects, targeting age-related skin concerns in consumers aged 50+.
• HONEY LAB (ハニーラボ) Honey and chamomile-based 5-step skincare system (cleanser, foam wash, essence, toner, emulsion) built around a proprietary Honey Fermentation Extract developed over 6 years to increase natural skin moisturizing factors.
• Health Foods / Health Supplements (健康食品) Comprehensive range of health supplements including Royal Jelly, Propolis, Bee Larvae, Bee Pollen, Green Juice, and specialized supplements for joints, eyes, diet, and general wellness, for health-conscious Japanese consumers.
• Non-Alz Bee Bee (ノンアルツ Beeビー) Functional food supplement containing propolis extract, designed to support cognitive function (memory, attention, concentration, judgment), developed in collaboration with Dr. Dale Bredesen. Only product in Japan with propolis extract as the functional ingredient for this cognitive claim (Consumer Affairs Agency database, Feb 2025).
• Kinkotsu Care Royal Locomo (筋骨ケアローヤルロコモ) New-concept leg supplement combining salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan, type II collagen, and soy isoflavones to support healthy knee joint function, muscle mass, and bone composition in middle-aged and older adults.
• Royal Excellent Oil - Citrus Herb Scent (ローヤルエクセレントオイル シトラスハーブの香り) Limited-edition citrus-herbal scent variant of Yamada Bee Farm's #1 best-selling beauty oil in the cosmetic-oil category, sold as a quantity-limited addition to the Royal Excellent Oil line.
• Honey Chicken Curry (はちみつチキンカレー) Newly released honey chicken curry product developed by Yamada Bee Farm's honey experts, extending the natural honey-and-food category into ready-to-eat curry.
• Honey & Royal Jelly Natural Foods (はちみつ・ローヤルゼリー自然食品) Natural food category spanning raw honey (including Manuka honey), fruit preserves, drinks, sweets, and household food items, sold through retail and gift channels.
• Pet Supplements (ペットサプリメント) Pet health supplements using royal jelly and bee-derived ingredients, developed in response to customer requests to support healthy joint function in dogs and other pets.
• Yamada Mitsubachi Farm Agritourism (山田みつばち農園) Agritourism facility offering strawberry picking, blueberry picking, a café-restaurant (un'ape), a honey-themed bakery (ぶんぶんファクトリー), and agricultural experiences, operated by the group as a brand-experience destination.
• Immune Analysis Research Center Service (免疫分析研究センター) Service that performs individual immune-system analysis and provides personalized product recommendations based on the analysis results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only product in Japan with verified functional claims for cognitive function support using propolis extract (consumer affairs database, Feb 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Uda City (宇陀市)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Comprehensive partnership agreement for promoting citizen health, including provision of functional food supplements to 1,000 residents for 6 months at no charge to study cognitive function improvement.
• Sophia Holdings (ソフィアホールディングス)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Joint venture company established in Okayama Prefecture to promote regional DX (digital transformation) and employment creation in the local community.
• Dr. Dale Bredesen (デール・ブレデセン博士)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 July 2019Partnership with Dr. Dale Bredesen, Professor Emeritus at UCLA and globally recognized dementia researcher, for dementia prevention initiatives in Japan's aging society. Total investment commitment of 800 million yen for the business collaboration.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• API Co., Ltd. Japan's largest honey producer and one of Yamada Bee Farm's closest direct competitors, operating across beekeeping, honey sourcing, and consumer health products. Both companies share the '3838' branding (referring to 1988 founding for API), and compete directly across Japanese beekeeping channels and consumer bee-product retail.
• Manuka Health (ApiHealth): Vertically integrated Mānuka honey and bee-product health company based in New Zealand, selling branded propolis, royal jelly, and honey supplements internationally. Highly comparable on bee-derived ingredients, supplement format, and emphasis on ingredient authentication.
• Wedderspoon: Premium raw Mānuka honey and bee-derived wellness product company selling directly to consumers globally. Closely comparable as a bee-ingredient-focused DTC brand with skincare and supplement adjacencies.
• Comvita: New Zealand-based global leader in Mānuka honey, propolis, and bee-derived health products, with established consumer health and skincare portfolios. Comparable in product mix (honey, propolis supplements, skincare ingredients) and reliance on premium bee ingredient narratives.

Broad incumbents

• FANCL Corporation: Leading Japanese supplements and skincare company with strong direct-to-consumer presence. Comparable in supplement-led health portfolio and omnichannel D2C, with broader R&D scale but no bee-specific ingredient focus.
• DHC Corporation: Major Japanese D2C health supplements and skincare company with broad catalog and strong mail-order/e-commerce model. Directly comparable on D2C motion, Japanese consumer targeting, and health-plus-beauty positioning, though DHC is much larger and not bee-derived.
• POLA: Premium Japanese direct-sales cosmetics company with department store, door-to-door, and online channels. Comparable as a Japanese premium skincare brand using direct sales motion, though operating at much larger scale and broader beauty category.
• ORBIS: Japanese D2C skincare brand under the POLA Orbis group, with mail-order and online subscription model. Closely analogous in D2C-only Japanese skincare strategy and subscription-led repeat purchase mechanics, though without bee-derived ingredient focus.
• Shiseido: Japan's largest and most globally diversified beauty company with broad skincare, makeup, and fragrance portfolios. Comparable in anti-aging skincare targeting Japan's 50s-70s consumer, but operates at far larger scale with global distribution Yamada Bee Farm lacks.

Regional players

• Streamland Honey (Arataki Honey): New Zealand-based honey producer with Mānuka and multifloral honey products and bee-derived wellness offerings. Comparable in raw material/ingredient storytelling but primarily focused on international export markets rather than the Japanese consumer that Yamada Bee Farm serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/yamadabee_3838
• Facebookfacebook.com/Yamada3838
• Instagraminstagram.com/yamada.bee_official
• TikToktiktok.com/@yamada.bee_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yamada Bee Farm