What Higashimaru does

Higashimaru Co., Ltd. (株式会社ヒガシマル, ticker 2058) is a Kagoshima-headquartered Japanese food and aquaculture company founded in 1947, operating two business divisions from a single Hioki City base. The Fisheries/Aquaculture division manufactures formulated feed for shrimp and fish farms, supported by an in-house coastal research laboratory (Rinkai Kenkyujo) and a dedicated feed manufacturing division; proprietary work includes microencapsulated initial feed to suppress water-quality deterioration and research into alternative marine ingredients for sustainable aquaculture. The Food Products division manufactures and sells a broad portfolio of instant ramen, plate udon, cup soups, dried noodles (including hand-stretched Shimabara somen), commercial-use food products for restaurants and catering, and seasonings (mentsuyu, curry roux, multi-purpose soup), distributed through four regional sales offices (Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo), retail and convenience-store channels, an Amazon Japan storefront, and group-company distribution (E-cosmo, Mukai UTC, F-Nakashima).

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market: sales-led field sales to commercial food-service operators and aquaculture operators, direct-to-consumer e-commerce (own website and Amazon), and export distribution targeting Malaysia and Singapore with JAKIM halal-certified and animal-free SKUs (including a Penang-style ramen series launched April 2026). Revenue derives from unit-priced product sales (retail 169-735 yen ex-tax per SKU) and B2B feed and food-service contracts, with wholesale pricing not publicly disclosed. Strategic priorities evident in 2024-2026 activity include regional-prefecture ramen line extensions, halal export buildout, group restructuring (a November 2025 consolidated subsidiary stock transfer), and a 2026 food-product price revision effective August 2026, all consistent with a mature SME-scale manufacturer pursuing measured product-led and geographic growth rather than category disruption.

Name

Higashimaru

Legal name

株式会社ヒガシマル

Website

https://k-higashimaru.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Higashimaru (株式会社ヒガシマル, ticker 2058) is a Kagoshima-based Japanese manufacturer founded in 1947 operating two divisions: formulated aquaculture feed (shrimp and fish) and a diversified consumer food portfolio (instant ramen, udon, cup soups, dried noodles, seasonings) sold domestically and exported to Malaysia and Singapore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kagoshima

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food Products Sales: Sale of branded food products including instant noodles, udon, ramen, soba, cup soups, seasonings, and condiments through retail and food service channels domestically and for export.
2. Aquaculture Feed Sales: Manufacturing and sale of specialized feed for shrimp and fish aquaculture to commercial aquaculture operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Higashimaru operates two main business divisions: (1) an Aquaculture/Fisheries business that manufactures and sells formulated feeds for shrimp and fish farming, and (2) a Food Products business that manufactures and sells a wide portfolio of instant noodles, dried noodles, cup soups, and seasonings under the Higashimaru and Higashi Foods brands for retail, food service, and export markets.

Product overview

株式会社ヒガシマル is a diversified Japanese food company operating two main business divisions: (1) Fisheries/Aquaculture business producing shrimp and fish feed for sustainable aquaculture, and (2) Food Products business manufacturing a comprehensive portfolio of noodle and soup products. The Food Products division encompasses instant ramen (侍ラーメン series, Kyushu ramen, regional specialty ramens like 鹿児島丸豚, 宮崎辛麺, 沖縄丸豚, 知覧お茶, かつお), plate udon/皿うどん (Nagasaki style, H-series, Yokohama kata-yaki soba, Chinese series), cup soups (鶏飯スープ, 五穀スープ, 鹿児島お茶漬け), dried noodles (udon, soba, somen including hand-stretched 島原手延そうめん), commercial-use foods for restaurants and catering, and seasonings (めんつゆ, カレー・ルー, 万能スープ). The company also produces export products including animal-free and halal-certified items, as well as Malaysian specialty noodles (マイクアリ・ペナン series). The product portfolio spans consumer retail and professional food service channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aquaculture Feed (Shrimp and Fish) Specialty formulated feeds for shrimp and fish aquaculture, including microencapsulated initial feed (マイクロカプセル) that suppresses water quality deterioration, sold to commercial aquaculture operators.
• Instant Ramen (Ramen) Instant ramen including fried and non-fried stick noodles in tonkotsu, spicy, soy sauce, tea-infused, and regional specialty flavors for home and food service use.
• Plate Udon (Hiyashi Sara Udon) Crispy fried udon dishes with thick soup toppings in source, soy sauce, white tonkotsu, Chinese, and regional specialty flavors.
• Cup Soups Instant cup soup products including Kerry (chicken rice) soup, five-grain soups in various flavors, and Kagoshima tea ochazuke.
• Dried Noodles (Udon, Soba, Somen) Traditional dried noodles including udon, soba, and hand-stretched Shimabara somen with up to 3-year shelf life.
• Commercial-Use Food Products (業務用) Professional-grade food products for restaurants, catering companies, and institutional food service, including Nagasaki champon, fried noodles, and sara udon in various commercial sizes.
• Export Products (Animal-Free and Halal) Export-oriented Japanese food products including animal-free (AF) tonkotsu ramen, multi-purpose soups, and JAKIM halal-certified Malaysian Penang noodle varieties.
• Seasonings and Other (Mentsuyu, Curry Roux, Soup Base) Seasoning and condiment products including Kagoshima mentsuyu, curry roux, udon/soba soup base, and multi-purpose cooking soups.
• Chiran Tea Ramen 2 servings (知覧お茶ラーメン2人前) Green tea-flavored ramen featuring Chiran first-harvest tea and Makurazaki katsuobushi for refreshing aroma and deep umami.
• Miyazaki Spicy Noodles 2 servings (宮崎辛麺2人前) Spicy noodles enhanced with Miyazaki prefecture chicken powder for deep umami and lasting spicy flavor, recommended with rice or as zosui finish.
• Okinawa Marugan Ramen 5 servings (沖縄丸豚ラーメン5食) Okinawa-style ramen featuring Agu pig meat extract in noodles and katsuobushi-flavored soup, with 90-second cook time.
• Multi-Purpose Soup (万能スープ) Animal-free, coloring-free, preservative-free soup base compliant with 'three hatreds five pungencies' (三恩五辛) restrictions, suitable for stir-fry seasoning, hot pot soup, and various dishes.
• Malaysian Penang Curry Noodles 1 serving (マイカリー・ペナン・カリー・ミー・ヌードル) Authentic Malaysian Penang curry noodles with JAKIM halal certification, rich curry soup with herbs, spices, and shrimp paste.
• Malaysian Penang White Curry Noodles 1 serving (マイカリー・ペナン・ホワイトカレー・ヌードル) Malaysian Penang white curry noodles with creamy texture, aromatic spices, and traditional sambal paste.
• Malaysian Penang Shrimp Noodle Soup 1 serving (マイカリー・ペナン・エビヌードル) Malaysian Penang shrimp noodle soup using traditional recipes with shrimp, shrimp paste, and fried onions.
• Kagoshima Ramen Tei Tonkotsu 2 servings (鹿児島ラーメン亭とんこつ2人前) Non-fried stick ramen with rich tonkotsu flavor using non-fried noodles with smooth texture and firmness comparable to fresh noodles.
• Katsuo Ramen 2 servings (かつおラーメン2人前) Katsuobushi-flavored ramen featuring clear soup with Makurazaki katsuobushi.
• Kagoshima Marugan Ramen 5 servings (鹿児島丸豚ラーメン5食) Kagoshima-style ramen with black pig lard in noodles and burned green onion in soup, 90-second cook time.
• Animal-Free Tonkotsu Ramen 5 servings (AF とんこつ風 鹿児島ラーメン5食) Animal-free tonkotsu-style ramen with white cloudy soup, garlic, pepper, soy powder, and vegetable umami, containing no animal ingredients.
• Kagoshima Mentsuyu Katsuo 500ml PET (めんつゆカツオ 500ml PET) Sweet mentsuyu made with Makurazaki katsuobushi and naturally brewed soy sauce, with sour seasoning for a refreshing sweet taste.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO22000 food safety certification maintained across food and feed operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• マル タケ食品株式会社 (Marutake Shokuhin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint development partner for Okinawa Marugoto Buta (Gu-Ru pork) Ramen product. Marutake Foods, an Okinawa-based noodle manufacturer, co-developed the product with Higashimaru to incorporate authentic Okinawan ingredients and manufacturing expertise.
• 西垂水茶業(有)様『知覧グリーン』 (Nishitarimizu Tea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with Nishitarimizu Tea in Minamikyushu City, Kagoshima for Chiran Tea Ramen product. High-quality first-flush Chiran tea used in soup formulation.
• (一社)えcoco (e-cosmo)minorOthers · 1 January 2024Group company of Higashimaru, listed as part of the corporate group ecosystem. Operates in related consumer goods or distribution sector.
• 向井殖産株式会社 (Mukai UTC)minorOthers · 1 January 2024Group company of Higashimaru, listed as part of the corporate group ecosystem.
• Nakashima Co. (フ·阿島)minorOthers · 1 January 2024Group company of Higashimaru, listed as part of the corporate group ecosystem.
• 株式会社エーコープ鹿児島 (A-Coop Kagoshima)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-developed Kagoshima Mentsuyu 500ml product jointly with A-Coop Kagoshima and Co-op Kagoshima Ishimura. Joint product development collaboration for regional food products.
• 生活協同組合コープかごしま (Co-op Kagoshima)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Three-party joint product development with A-Coop Kagoshima and Higashimaru for Kagoshima Mentsuyu 500ml. Active co-development of local specialty products.
• 鹿児島ユナイテッドFC (Kagoshima United FC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate sponsor of Kagoshima United FC, a professional soccer team in the J2/J3 Kagoshima Hundred-Year Vision League. Supports local sports and community engagement.
• 鹿児島レブナイズ (Kagoshima Rebnise)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Corporate sponsor of Kagoshima Rebnise, a professional basketball team in the B2 League. Supports local sports as part of community engagement activities.
• 鹿児島水产高等学校 (Kagoshima Fisheries High School)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative product development with Kagoshima Fisheries High School for Katsuo Ramen product, leveraging Makurazaki region's katsuobushi production expertise.
• 鹿児島城西高等学校調理科 (Kagoshima Johoku High School Culinary Department)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaborative recipe development with nearby Kagoshima Johoku High School culinary students. Students developed multiple recipes using Higashimaru food products with local Kagoshima ingredients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Acecook: Japan-headquartered instant noodle manufacturer with broad ramen, udon, and soup SKU coverage. Closely comparable to Higashimaru in product mix, retail and food-service distribution, and category positioning.
• Toyo Suisan (Maruchan): Major Japanese instant noodle and food manufacturer behind the Maruchan brand in Japan and the US. Comparable across instant noodles, dried noodles (Udon/soba/somen), and cup soup categories where Higashimaru operates.
• Nissin Foods Holdings: Japan's largest instant noodle manufacturer (Cup Noodles, various ramen brands). Direct competitor in instant ramen with substantially larger scale and global distribution, serving the same consumer and food-service channels Higashimaru targets.

Broad incumbents

• Ezaki Glico: Diversified Japanese confectionery and food manufacturer. Overlaps with Higashimaru at the margin in the packaged consumer-food and seasoning categories, though primarily confectionery-focused rather than noodles.
• Dainippon Suisan (Nissui): Major Japanese seafood and aquaculture company with both aquaculture operations and feed/production inputs. Comparable to Higashimaru's fisheries feed division as an integrated seafood/aquaculture participant in Japan.
• Nichirei: Japanese food and logistics group with a large frozen/proPrepared food business serving food service and retail. Comparable food-service segment overlap with Higashimaru's commercial-use (業務用) product line, though much larger scale.
• House Foods Group: Diversified Japanese food manufacturer (curry roux, spices, beverages, packaged foods). Overlaps with Higashimaru's curry-roux, soup-base, and seasoning lines; broader portfolio but no aquaculture feed component.

Others

• Nippon Suisan (Nissui) Kaisha: Japanese seafood, aquaculture, and fine chemicals company. Relevant adjacency to Higashimaru's aquaculture feed business as both a potential customer and competitive reference for feed inputs.
• Marubeni Nisshin Feed: Japanese feed manufacturer (joint venture between Marubeni and Nisshin OilliO). Direct competitor in the aquaculture feed market that Higashimaru's Feed Manufacturing Division serves.

Emerging players

• Marutake Foods: Okinawa-based noodle manufacturer that co-developed Higashimaru's Okinawa Marugan Ramen with Agu pork. A smaller regional noodle peer with overlapping product type and Japanese regional-sourcing approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@higashifoods
• Facebookfacebook.com/higashifoods.kagoshima
• Instagraminstagram.com/higashifoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/higashimaru-co.-ltd.

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Higashimaru