Sumidaya Shoten

What Sumidaya Shoten does

Sumidaya Shoten (隅田屋商店) is a Tokyo-based, family-owned rice retailer founded in 1905 (Meiji 38), now led by fourth-generation president Katayama Shinichi. The company specializes in premium hand-blended and traditionally milled Japanese rice, operating three physical retail locations in Tokyo — the Sumida-ku headquarters/main store, a takeout-only counter in Azabudai Hills Market, and an experiential dine-in and takeaway shop in Asakusa opened March 17, 2026 — alongside a proprietary nationwide e-commerce storefront (theshop.jp).

Its core technology is a generational rice milling process (古式精米製法) using large circulating rice polishing machines that grind rice against itself over seven times the duration of conventional milling, producing a trademarked ama-iro (candy-brown) finish that retains the grain's natural umami and aroma. On top of this, a proprietary custom blending technique (オリジナルブレンド), performed by a five-star rice master (五つ星お米マイスター), combines top-grade brown rice varieties from across Japan at a proprietary golden ratio optimized for specific end-uses (onigiri, sushi, donburi, gift sets). Products span retail rice (Daigin-sen, Gin-sen, use-case-specific blends), ready-to-eat onigiri (over 15 varieties), okowa (glutinous rice), ohagi seasonal sweets, and curated gift sets distributed through department stores and select shops nationwide.

Sumidaya generates revenue through five streams: consumer retail rice sales (one-time), onigiri and rice-ball sales at stores and via Uber Eats (one-time), B2B rice supply to restaurants with custom blending and rice-cooking consulting (recurring/subscription-like), gift products through department stores, and seasonal limited-edition products. Distribution combines three Tokyo retail stores, owned e-commerce, third-party delivery (Uber Eats), reservation platform (Tabelog), and direct export to high-end Japanese restaurants in approximately five countries, with brand-building via TV appearances, magazine features, JETRO and MAFF/JFOODO events, and experiential workshops at the Azabudai Hills location.

Name

Sumidaya Shoten

Legal name

株式会社 隅田屋商店

Website

https://sumidaya.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sumidaya Shoten is a 120-year-old Tokyo-based family-owned rice retailer that sells traditionally milled, master-blended premium Japanese rice through three retail stores, e-commerce, B2B restaurant supply, and international export to high-end Japanese restaurants abroad.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Rice Retail

NAICS

Rice Milling (311212)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040)

akta.pro primary industry

Rice & Grain Processing (milling, polishing, parboiling, blending) (AFAKABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cold Prepared Foods & Meal Components (Sides, Proteins, Family Meals) (CRAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Premium rice retail
• Traditional rice milling
• Rice blending services
• Japanese rice export
• Rice food service

Headquarters

HQ city

Sumida

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Rice Sales: Sale of blended polished rice (白米, ブレンド米) to individual consumers and businesses at company stores and via online shop. One-time purchase model per transaction.
2. Onigiri and Rice Ball Sales: Ready-to-eat onigiri (おむすび) andrice balls sold at Azabudai Hills and Asakusa locations for takeaway and dine-in. Also available via Uber Eats delivery.
3. B2B Rice Supply to Restaurants: Custom rice blending and supply to restaurants, hotels, and food service operators. Includes rice selection consultation, custom blending, and rice cooking optimization support.
4. Gift Products: Packaged gift sets (ギフト) of premium blended rice sold at department stores, select shops, and via online store for gifting occasions.
5. Seasonal and Limited-Edition Products: Seasonal okowa (おこわ) varieties, limited-time onigiri flavors, and seasonal ohagi sold at specific locations with premium pricing.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sumidaya Shoten is a 120-year-old Tokyo rice retailer that sells hand-blended and traditionally milled premium rice (white rice and custom blends) directly to consumers via three retail stores and an online shop. The company also prepares and serves rice-based ready-to-eat foods (onigiri, okowa, ohagi, bento, and gozen sets), and supplies custom-blended rice, consulting, and rice cooking expertise to restaurants and food service operators domestically and abroad.

Product overview

Sumidaya Shoten operates as a traditional Japanese rice retailer with a multi-channel business model centered on premium rice products and rice-based food services. The company's core offerings include: (1) Sumidata Rice products - premium rice varieties processed using traditional milling techniques and sold at different quality tiers; (2) Food service operations at physical stores offering onigiri (rice balls), rice sets (Omusubi Gozen and Hitsu Gozen), bento boxes, okowa (glutinous rice), and ohagi; (3) Gift products - curated rice gift sets in various packaging formats for gifting occasions; (4) Commercial/Business rice for restaurants and food service operators; (5) B2B services including restaurant wholesale, original rice blend development, taste improvement consulting, export, and professional training seminars. The company operates three physical retail locations in Tokyo (Honten, Azabudai Hills, Asakusa) plus an e-commerce online store, positioning itself as a 100+ year old rice specialist combining traditional craftsmanship with modern food service innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 隅田屋商店: 100年以上続く米穀店。本店運営。
• 隅田屋米
• 吟撰隅田屋米

Products and services

• Sumidaya Rice (隅田屋米) — Premium Blended Rice Premium rice products selected by Five-Star Rice Meister, blended using proprietary techniques and processed with traditional milling method to achieve an ama-iro (candy-brown) finish that retains natural aroma and umami. Available in multiple grades and use-case-specific blends (Daigin-sen, Gin-sen, onigiri rice, vinegar rice varieties). Sold at retail stores, online shop, and as B2B commercial supply.
• Onigiri / Rice Balls (おむすび) Hand-formed rice balls crafted by rice specialists using traditional milling rice. Over 15 varieties including salt, umeboshi, salmon, tuna mayo, chicken soboro, beef shigure-ni, mentaiko cream cheese, and seasonal offerings. Sold at Azabudai Hills store (with morning sales starting 8:45 AM), Asakusa store, and via Uber Eats delivery.
• Omusubi Gozen Set (おむすび御膳) Experience-style rice ball dining set featuring seven fillings with all-you-can-refill rice, miso soup, dessert, and green tea. Asakusa store exclusive offering showcasing traditional rice milling and expert rice cooking techniques.
• Hitsu Gozen Set (おひつ御膳) Traditional rice serving set with rice in a wooden bucket (hitsu), featuring grilled salmon or chicken shio-koji preparations with six side dishes. Showcases expert rice cooking techniques.
• Takumi Bento (匠弁当) — Premium Bento Box Premium bento box featuring expert-cooked rice with various main protein options including salmon or chicken, served with chikuwa iseibe-yaki and three specialty side dishes.
• Okowa (おこわ) — Steamed Glutinous Rice Steamed glutinous rice products including red bean okowa and seasonal specialty varieties. Limited-time offerings include unagi, mushroom, sweet potato, chicken burdock, corn, clam, and bamboo shoot okowa. Made with premium Toyama prefecture Shindaishoumu glutinous rice.
• Ohagi (おはぎ) Bite-sized sweet rice cakes wrapped in sweet bean paste. Three varieties: white bean, red bean, and kinako (soybean flour). Made with premium glutinous rice, handmade daily in-store. Azabudai Hills store exclusive seasonal product.
• Gift Products (ギフト商品) Curated rice gift sets designed to complement specific dishes, available in various packaging formats including 6-合 paper bags, WECK 5-合 containers, 2-合 cubes, and 12-合 rice bags. Includes premium grades (Daigin-sen, Gin-sen), specialty blends (Azabudai Blend with stickiness/smoothness/sweetness options), and seasonal varieties. Distributed through department stores, select shops, and online store.
• Commercial / Business Rice (業務用米) Wholesale rice products for restaurants and food service businesses. Five-Star Rice Meister provides consultation for optimal rice selection based on menu requirements. Includes original blend development and rice cooking optimization services.
• Onigiri Catering Service (おむすび出張サービス) Mobile onigiri service providing freshly made rice balls at customer-specified locations. Customized offerings including various onigiri types and compatible side dishes prepared by Five-Star Rice Meister. Suitable for corporate events and private gatherings.
• Export Business (輸出事業) International rice export service delivering traditionally milled premium Japanese rice to high-end Japanese restaurants worldwide, serving approximately 5 countries.
• Original Rice Development (オリジナル米開発) Custom rice blend development service collaborating with chefs to analyze rice characteristics, blend premium brown rice varieties, and apply traditional milling techniques for menu-specific applications.
• Restaurant Wholesale / Taste Improvement Consulting (飲食店卸・食味改善コンサルティング) Combined B2B service for restaurants including menu-optimized rice selection, rice cooking environment analysis, collaborative original blend development with chefs, and professional consulting on rice optimization and serving method improvements.
• Seminars and Workshops (講演・セミナー) Educational programs including rice cooking classes (beginner to advanced levels), professional rice cooking guidance, rice selection seminars, rice cooker selection workshops, Japanese rice appeal workshops, and rice sales techniques training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Triple award at international rice cooking contest: Special A grade (highest), Rice Blender award, and Donburi (rice bowl) award.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 鰻楽 (Unagi Raku)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Collaboration on limited-time summer menu item '特撰おこわ うなぎ' (special red rice with eel). Unagi Raku provides domestically sourced eel and special sauce; Sumidaya uses Toyama-prefecture sticky rice '新大正糯' steamed in-store. Available at Azabudai Hills store through August 2026.
• 日山WAGYU (Hiyama Wagyu)minorOthersAzabudai Hills Market tenant providing domestic Wagyu beef used in Sumidaya's '牛しぐれ煮' (beef shigureni) onigiri. Sumidaya cooks and prepares the beef in-store.
• だしお粂 (Dashi-okome)minorOthersCo-tenant within Azabudai Hills Market shared booth. Provides dashi-based products alongside Sumidaya's rice and onigiri.
• JETRO New York OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSumidaya conducted a practical Japanese rice cooking class in New York (July 2025), comparing different Japanese rice varieties with Wagyu beef and grilled salmon. Organized by JETRO New York to promote Japanese agricultural exports.
• 麻布台ヒルズマーケット (Azabudai Hills Market)coreOthersRetail property operator housing Sumidaya's Azabudai Hills shop within its marketplace. Provides physical retail space and foot traffic within the Azabudai Hills complex.
• 农林水产省 / JFOODO (MAFF / JFOODO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Osaka-Kansai Expo (June 2025) under MAFF Theme Week, demonstrating Japanese Western cuisine (curry rice) to promote Japanese food exports. Event organized by JFOODO export promotion initiative.
• Multiple ingredient suppliers (近富, 鳥藤, 上野湯葢, 河野食品, 博多ふくいち, 飯田商店, 相模屋, 高田果園, 三陸産えび, 大志水产, 吹田商店)minorOthersNetwork of specialized food ingredient suppliers for onigiri toppings and rice products: salmon (近富), chicken (鳥藤), tsukudani (上野湯葢), takana greens (河野食品), mentaiko (博多ふくいち), bonito flakes (飯田商店), inariage (相模屋), umeboshi (高田果園), dried shrimp (三陸), sujiko (大志水产), kombu (吹田商店).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=UCAeAUnEV8I
• Facebookfacebook.com/sumidayarice
• Instagraminstagram.com/sumidaya_rice/?hl=ja
• Xx.com/sumidaya_rice

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Sumidaya Shoten