What Ichimasa Kamaboko does

Ichimasa Kamaboko Co., Ltd. (一正蒲鉾株式会社) is a Japanese food manufacturer specializing in surimi-based (fish-paste) products and cultivated mushrooms. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Niigata City, the company is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard market under ticker 2904 and employs 928 people. Its product portfolio centers on kamaboko, chikuwa, kani-kama (crab-flavored fish cake), naruto, hanpen, satsuma-age, oden, and date maki, alongside cultivated maitake mushrooms. The company holds the No. 1 domestic market share in crab-flavored kamaboko, a category it pioneered in 1974, and has received six consecutive years of JSH Salt Reduction Food Awards (gold) for its low-sodium product line.

The core technology is fish protein processing and surimi-based product manufacturing, combined with proprietary low-sodium formulation expertise and an AI/IoT-optimized mushroom cultivation center at Aganogawa. Ichimasa operates 9 production bases across Japan (Niigata HQ plus factories in Seiro, Higashi-ko, Yamakido, Hokkaido, and Kansai, plus the Bio Division Cultivation Center) and a wholly-owned cold storage and logistics subsidiary, ICHIMASA REIZO. The company holds ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, GLOBALG.A.P., ISO 22301, and ISO 10002 certifications across its facilities, supporting both retail and B2B food service customers.

Revenue derives primarily from one-time sale of fish-paste products and prepared foods through three channels: national retail distribution via supermarkets and convenience stores, direct-to-consumer e-commerce through ichimasa-eshop.com, and B2B supply to restaurants and food service operators. Distribution is managed through 11 sales offices and 6 delivery depots covering Hokkaido to Kyushu. The company has articulated the ICHIMASA 30 Vision targeting global expansion and bio-food innovation by 2045, and is executing a second medium-term management plan (2021.7.1–2026.6.30). Recent strategic activity includes cellular agriculture R&D partnerships via IntegriCulture's Cellag open-brand initiative (alongside Maruha Nichiro, Umami Bioworks, Tsunan Sake Brewery), a ¥100 million Mizuho Bank loan, renewable energy transition across production facilities, and participation in KDDI's Innovation Labo NIIGATA regional DX program.

Name

Ichimasa Kamaboko

Legal name

一正蒲鉾株式会社

Website

https://ichimasa.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ichimasa Kamaboko is a Japanese publicly listed food manufacturer (TYO: 2904) specializing in surimi-based products (kamaboko, kani-kama, chikuwa, date maki) and cultivated maitake mushrooms, serving Japanese households via nationwide retail, e-commerce, and B2B food service channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Processed Seafood / Surimi-Based Fish Paste Products

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Surimi-Based Value-Added Products (Imitation Crab, Formed Seafood) (AFANALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surimi & Minced Fish Products (Imitation Crab, Fish Paste) (AFANADAG), Ready-to-Eat Seafood (Cooked Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Surimi) (AFANALAC)

Keywords

• Surimi-based fish paste products
• Kamaboko fish cakes
• Crab-flavored fish cake
• Eel-flavored fish cake
• Cultivated maitake mushrooms

Headquarters

HQ city

Niigata

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fish-paste products and prepared foods: Manufacturing and sales of surimi-based products including kamaboko, chikuwa, naruto, hanpen, satsuma-age, oden, crab sticks, and other fish-paste products. Also includes mushrooms ( maitake) business.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ichimasa Kamaboko manufactures and sells surimi-based (fish paste) processed seafood products including kamaboko, chikuwa, kani-kama (crab-flavored fish cake), naruto, hanpen, satsuma-age, and oden, as well as cultivated maitake mushrooms. Products are sold under proprietary brands such as Salad Stick (Japan's No.1 kani-kama), Unajiro (eel-flavored), Pure Fubuki, Karikko, and the Anpanman children's line, and are distributed through supermarkets, convenience stores, food-service operators, and a direct e-commerce store.

Product overview

Ichimasa Kamaboko Co., Ltd. is a Japanese food manufacturing company specializing in surimi-based (fish paste) products and cultivated mushrooms. The product portfolio centers on kamaboko (fish cakes), chikuwa (fish cake tubes), kani-kama (crab-flavored fish cakes), date maki (rolled omelet), and related processed seafood products. Key brands include Salad Stick (Japan's No.1 crab-flavored kamaboko), Unajiro (eel-flavored fish cake supporting eel conservation), Pure Fubuki, and Gabrich Mikiwaku Kani Kama. The company also produces the Ichimasa Maitake mushroom line through AI/IoT-enabled smart agriculture, and maintains sub-brands including the Delicious Low-Salt series for health-conscious consumers, Next Seafood for sustainable products, Karikko crispy snacks, and Anpanman children's products. Educational platforms include Fish Protein Lab and Nerideco decorative recipe videos. With a focus on high-protein, low-fat fish protein nutrition, the company operates nationwide with 9 production bases and distributes through retail, e-commerce, and corporate channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• うな次郎 (Unajiro): Eel-flavored surimi product line, including 'Sugoku nagai Unajiro' (very long eel-style) and other eel-flavored kamaboko products.
• サラダスティック (Salad Stick)
• いちまさのカニかま
• カリッこ (Karikko)
• アンパンマンシリーズ (Anpanman Series)
• ネクストシーフード (Next Seafood)
• フィッシュプロテインマイスター (Fish Protein Master)
• ねりデコ (Nerideco)

Products and services

• Salad Stick (サラダスティック) Crab-flavored fish cake (kani-kama) made from surimi; positioned as a convenient, high-protein, low-fat snack for household consumption; Japan market leader in the crab-flavored kamaboko category.
• Unajiro (うな次郎) Eel-flavored fish cake that reproduces the taste and texture of grilled eel without using actual eel; designed to support Japanese eel resource conservation while delivering a traditional flavor profile.
• Sugoku Nagai Unajiro (すごーく長いうな次郎)

Quantifiable outcome

• Crab sticks market share: No. 1 in Japan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IntegriCulture Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2025R&D collaboration in cellular agriculture and alternative seafood development. Ichimasa is participating in IntegriCulture's Cellag 'open brand' initiative for cellular agriculture products.
• Maruha Nichiro CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2025R&D partnership in cellular agriculture technology development as part of IntegriCulture's collaborative network.
• Umami BioworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2025R&D partnership in alternative seafood and fermentation technology through IntegriCulture's network.
• Tsunan Sake BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 December 2025R&D partnership in cellular agriculture research within IntegriCulture's collaborative network.
• KDDI CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation in 'Innovation Labo NIIGATA' - a business co-creation program created by Niigata Prefecture and KDDI to promote regional entrepreneurship and DX initiatives.
• Niigata PrefectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through 'Innovation Labo NIIGATA' program for regional revitalization and startup collaboration.
• Japanese Kamaboko Association (日本かまぼこ協会)coreOthersIndustry association for fish-paste product manufacturers, promoting the category and fish protein benefits.
• Ichimasa Yamabiko-kai (一正やまびこ会)coreOthersSupplier association with 765 member companies, promoting mutual growth and trust through regular meetings and information sharing.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nichirei Corporation: Major Japanese frozen-foods and processed-food company including seafood prepared foods. Comparable in serving retail and food-service channels with prepared/ready-to-eat products, though more diversified across proteins.
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation: Japan's largest seafood company with broad portfolio including surimi-based products, frozen seafood, and processed foods. Direct overlap with Ichimasa's fish-paste products at a much larger scale, and listed as an Ichimasa R&D partner in cellular agriculture.
• Thai Union Group PCL: Global seafood processor with branded and private-label surimi/kani-kama products distributed worldwide. Comparable business model at much larger scale; useful proxy for international seafood-processing economics.
• Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui): One of Japan's largest seafood and processed-food groups, with significant surimi, frozen, and aquaculture operations. Competes directly with Ichimasa in fish-paste categories and supply-chain scale.

Direct peers

• Marutomo Co., Ltd. Ehime-based Japanese maker of kamaboko, chikuwa, and other fish-paste products, including a well-known kani-kama line. Direct competitor in retail fish-cake SKUs.
• Kibun Foods Inc. Japanese producer of surimi-based products including kani-kama and kamaboko, plus seafood and prepared foods. Direct overlap in retail fish-paste categories.
• Hokuto Corporation: Leading Japanese producer of cultivated mushrooms including maitake, operating AI/IoT-enabled growing facilities. Direct comparison for Ichimasa's Bio Division and maitake business line.
• Suzuhiro Kamaboko Co., Ltd. Traditional kamaboko manufacturer based in Odawara, Japan, producing fish cake and related fish-paste products for retail and tourism channels. Closely matches Ichimasa's core kamaboko product focus.

Emerging players

• Umami Bioworks: Singapore-based alternative-seafood and cellular-agriculture company partnered with Ichimasa via IntegriCulture's network. Comparable as a peer in the alternative-seafood R&D space Ichimasa is positioning into.
• IntegriCulture Inc. Japanese cellular-agriculture platform operator running the Cellag 'open brand' initiative in which Ichimasa participates. Relevant as a partner and as a proxy for the alternative-seafood opportunity Ichimasa is pursuing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ichimasa_jp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQewCGj2C8JW13P9gMnF8oQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/474639299374820
• Instagraminstagram.com/ichimasa_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ichimasa-kamaboko-co-ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Ichimasa Kamaboko