According to a report by writer, translator, and market research specialist Waku Miller, the Japanese alt-meat market is beginning to take off after the country’s government declared it an “important sector” last year.
The government is now promoting the development of plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives, viewing them as both a potential solution to the environmental impact of meat production and a way of improving food security.
Miller’s report examines the current state of the Japanese alt-meat market, looking at high-profile players in the fast food and plant-based sectors. Some key takeaways are:
- Japanese fast food chains such as MOS Burger and Dotour Coffee are now offering vegan burgers, with MOS offering a meatless alternative to every beef burger on the menu.
- Japan’s only publicly-listed alt-meat company, Next Meats, has raised considerable funding and is now offering a wide range of plant-based products.
- The country’s second-largest meat-packer, Itoham Yonekyu, has moved into the alt-meat sector by launching a plant-based product line via its subsidiary Itoham Foods.
The full report can be viewed here. Note that the report was originally published on November 1 and some details may since have changed.
