Yamaki

What Yamaki does

Yamaki USA, Inc. is a Forest Grove, Oregon-based food company that imports and distributes authentic Japanese umami ingredients, principally katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and dashi products, in the North American market. The company is the US subsidiary of the long-established Japanese producer Yamaki Co., Ltd. and markets a heritage of more than 100 years in bonito processing. Its product range spans Hana-Katsuo shaved bonito flakes, Kappo Shirodashi and Shirodashi liquid dashi concentrates, Umami Dashi Stock Powder, Mentsuyu noodle soup base, and Bonito Topping, with retail and foodservice pack sizes including a 1LB format for culinary operators.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Direct-to-consumer sales run through a Shopify storefront at premium price points (approximately $11.99 for an 80g pack), supplemented by retail distribution across specialty and grocery channels and a foodservice line for restaurants and chefs. Positioning emphasizes MSG-free formulation, traditional Japanese production methods, and the parent company's multi-generational expertise, supporting a premium-versus-commodity stance against generic bonito flake competitors.

Operationally, Yamaki USA is small, disclosed as having 1-10 employees, with no published revenue, funding, or growth metrics. Strategic activity centers on expanding the SKU portfolio, opening a foodservice channel via bulk packaging, and building consumer education around dashi preparation. The company's investment-relevant signals are brand heritage, channel breadth, and Ajinomoto-adjacent retail relationships rather than technology, scale, or financial momentum.

Name

Yamaki

Legal name

YAMAKI USA, INC

Website

https://yamakiusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yamaki USA, Inc. is a Forest Grove, Oregon-based subsidiary of Japanese producer Yamaki Co., Ltd. that imports and distributes authentic katsuobushi bonito flakes and dashi products to US consumers, retailers, and foodservice operators via Shopify DTC and multi-channel retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Culinary Ingredients

NAICS

Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing (31193), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAKADAF

Soy Sauce, Tamari & Asian Condiments Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Condiments, Sauces, Dressings & Spreads Manufacturing

SECONDARYAFAKADAO

Fermented & Specialty Condiments Manufacturing (Kimchi Base, Gochujang, Miso-Based Sauces)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Processing & Manufacturing/Condiments, Sauces, Dressings & Spreads Manufacturing

Keywords

• Japanese culinary ingredients
• Bonito flakes production
• Dashi products
• Katsuobushi manufacturing
• Specialty Asian foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Yamaki USA generates revenue through direct e-commerce sales of Japanese food products including bonito flakes, dashi bases, and noodle soup concentrates to consumers. Products are sold in various sizes from small retail packages to larger foodservice quantities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Yamaki USA, Inc. manufactures and sells traditional Japanese culinary ingredients, most notably katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and complementary dashi products such as dashi base, noodle soup base, and dashi stock powder. Its products are used by home cooks and foodservice operators to build authentic Japanese umami flavors and are distributed through U.S. retail grocery and direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.

Product overview

Yamaki is a Japanese food company specializing in Katsuobushi (dried, fermented skipjack tuna), bonito flakes, and Dashi (Japanese umami-rich stock). The company offers over 100 years of expertise in perfecting these products. The product portfolio consists of core bonito flake products under the "Hana-Katsuo" brand in various sizes (80g, 1LB, 100g for specialty use), convenient portion pack toppings, liquid dashi bases including "Kappo Shirodashi" and "Shirodashi" in multiple sizes, granulated dashi stock powder, and noodle soup base "Mentsuyu". These products are distributed through retail channels and foodservice, all manufactured in Japan (except the 1LB Hana-Katsuo which is a product of USA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hana-Katsuo: Premium bonito flakes product line featuring high-quality shaved bonito with broad width and thinner thickness for versatile culinary use.
• Kappo Shirodashi
• Shirodashi
• Umami Dashi Stock Powder
• Mentsuyu
• Bonito Topping

Products and services

• Katsuobushi / Bonito Flakes Dried, shaved bonito flakes used as a traditional Japanese umami topping and ingredient for dashi, sold to home cooks and foodservice operators in retail and online channels.
• Dashi Base Prepared dashi broth base that allows consumers to make authentic Japanese soup and cooking liquid quickly, for home cooks and foodservice kitchens.
• Noodle Soup Base Seasoned liquid concentrate/base used to build broth for Japanese noodle soups, targeting home cooks and restaurants.
• Dashi Stock Powder Instant powdered dashi seasoning that dissolves in hot water to produce a quick dashi broth, aimed at consumers wanting convenience without scratch preparation.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AjinomotominorOthersAjinomoto is referenced in the privacy policy as an affiliate with whom Yamaki USA shares personal information. This indicates a corporate affiliation but the nature of the operational relationship (if any beyond data sharing) is not detailed.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Marutomo Co. Marutomo is one of Japan's leading katsuobushi and dashi product manufacturers with a long heritage, mirroring Yamaki's core offering of bonito flakes and dashi concentrates. It is comparable on product mix and craftsmanship positioning.
• Yamasa Corporation: Yamasa is a Japanese soy sauce and dashi producer with a strong heritage (similar to Yamaki's claimed 100+ years). It competes in the same artisanal Asian condiment category with US exports.
• Marukin Co. Marukin manufactures Japanese condiments including dashi, soy sauce, and tsuyu. It is directly comparable to Yamaki as a Japanese condiment brand with overlapping SKU formats (dashi stock, mentsuyu) and similar premium positioning.
• Shimaya Corporation: Shimaya specializes in dashi packs (katsuobushi and kombu-based) sold across Japan and exported internationally. It is a direct product peer to Yamaki's granulated Umami Dashi Stock Powder and dashi base SKUs.

Broad incumbents

• S&B Foods: S&B Foods produces Japanese curry, spices, and dashi-related seasonings with global distribution. It competes with Yamaki in the packaged dashi/seasoning category as a broader incumbent with stronger marketing reach.
• Mizkan: Mizkan produces Japanese condiments and vinegars and sells dashi-related products in the US. It is comparable to Yamaki as a Japanese condiment manufacturer competing in the same pantry category with broader portfolio scale.
• Kikkoman: Kikkoman is the dominant global soy sauce and Japanese pantry brand with extensive US distribution. It overlaps directly with Yamaki through dashi, shirodashi, and tsuyu/menstsuyu products, but at much broader scale and lower price tiers.

Emerging players

• Kishibori Shoyu: Kishibori Shoyu is a small-batch, artisanal Japanese soy sauce brand sold in the US. It shares Yamaki's premium heritage positioning and DTC/retail model, though focused on soy sauce rather than dashi.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yamaki-usa-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Yamaki