Fish Paste Product Output on Rebound in Japan

Tokyo, Feb. 10 (Jiji Press)–Production of fish paste products such as “chikuwa,” fried “kamaboko” and “hanpen” fish cakes has begun to rebound in Japan after decades of declines amid lower demand. Production of fish paste products in the country dropped by more than half from three decades earlier to roughly 408,000 tons in 2024, according to the fisheries ministry. However, production is starting to pick up. Output of chikuwa and kamaboko fish cakes totaled about 360,000 tons in the first 11 months of 2025, already exceeding the annual figure of about 358,000 tons marked in 2024, according to the Food Marketing Research and Information Center. Production of fish paste products in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, recovered in 2025 after a brief decrease following a powerful earthquake in January 2024. “Relatively stable prices for fish paste products compared with other foods, along with rising interest in their health benefits, may be leading to increased production,” an official at a food manufacturer said. Kibun Foods Inc., a fish paste product maker, last year adopted the name “surimi,” which fish paste products are often known as outside of Japan, to refer to the products. The company has beefed up product planning and development by renaming its fish paste product planning department the “surimi products planning department.” “Sales mainly of ‘kanikama’ (imitation crab), chikuwa and hanpen are strong,” a Kibun official said. “Fish paste products are easy to eat and digest and are recommended for people who want to maintain muscle strength,” an official at an industry association said. The association is aiming to spur consumption by labeling products that exceed a certain standard for fish protein content with a “fish protein mark.” “People are finding that fish paste products are health-conscious foods that make it easy to consume high-quality protein,” said Yoichi Matsumoto, a senior official at the association. “We hope production and consumption will continue to grow.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]