Japanese cuisine

© Sushi Roll
Food Service

Mexico: Japanese Chain Sushi Roll Joins Forces With Better Balance for ‘Vegan Lab’ Menu

Sushi Roll, a Japanese-inspired restaurant chain in Mexico, has launched a new menu called Vegan Lab in collaboration with alt protein brand Better Balance. The menu features ten dishes, including starters, salads, soups, rolls, nigiri, and main courses. Meats such as pork and chicken have been replaced with Better Balance’s plant-based alternatives to achieve an authentic taste and texture. The launch comes in response to growing demand for plant-based food in Mexico; 65% of Mexicans now reportedly consume plant-based products on a regular basis, while 30% identify as flexitarian. “Innovation is part of Sushi Roll’s DNA and we are constantly renewing our menu to remain in the preference of diners. We know that more and more people expect to find plant-based options and, although Japanese …

more

Organisations and brands:

KUURAKU launches vegan ramen

© KUURAKU
Food Service

Japanese Restaurant Chain KUURAKU Launches Authentic Vegan Ramen

KUURAKU, a Japanese restaurant chain with locations across the Asia-Pacific region and Canada, has begun offering vegan ramen for the first time. The ramen is made with a special plant-based broth combined with vegetables, soy milk for creaminess, and homemade noodles. The launch comes in response to increased demand for vegan ramen worldwide, and follows significant R&D and trials. KUURAKU said it aimed to dispel the idea that Japanese cuisine offers few options for vegetarians and vegans. The new ramen also provides an option for flexitarians or those who want a lighter meal. “We are confident that the introduction of vegan ramen will attract rave reviews from our satisfied customers and make our outlets hugely popular,” said Mr Kojiro Honda, co-owner and founder at KUURAKU …

more

Organisations and brands:

© Wagamama
Food Service

Wagamama to Offer Vegan K-Dogs & “Pork” Tonkatsu at Noodle Lab in London

Japanese-inspired UK restaurant chain Wagamama is re-opening its experimental Noodle Lab in Soho, London, which will act as a test kitchen for recipe creation. In line with Wagamama’s commitment to be 50% plant-based, the Noodle Lab will feature new plant-based menu items, including vegan K-dogs (a popular Korean street food). The dish will consist of corn dogs coated in a noodle crumb and topped with sriracha, vegan turmeric mayo, chilli, coriander, and red pepper powder. Other menu options will be the ‘pork’ tonkatsu (consisting of deep-fried and breaded vegan pork) and plant-based pork buns made with jackfruit. Additionally, Wagamama will be experimenting with sustainable initiatives such as including cauliflower greens in stir-fries. “Relevant, sustainable & creative” The Noodle Lab will also reportedly be hosting collaborations …

more

Organisations and brands:

Issei Vegan Gummies

©Issei
Food & Beverage

Issei Brings Gelatin-Free, Japanese-Inspired Mochi Gummies to Whole Foods

While most gummy candies on the market utilize animal gelatin, corn syrup and artificial colors, one brand is reinventing chewy snacks using East Asian artisan techniques and better, cleaner ingredients.  Issei is a female- and Asian-owned brand whose plant-based mochi gummies are merging Japanese culture traditions with modern innovation. Inspired by beloved Japanese mochi treats, the gummies are bite-sized snacks made with rice flour that come in several flavors, including Strawberry, Vanilla and Mango.  Naturally crafted without gelatin, Issei mochi gummies are also low in sugar, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO.    Fueled by heritage Founded by Miko Shino, Issei (which translates to “first Japanese immigrants to the US”) was born from Shino’s desire to create healthy, chewy snacks she would be proud to feed her …

more

soy meat Japanese cafe

@Ned Snowman - stock.adobe.com
Market & Trends

Report Says Meat Alternatives in Japan Have Entered Mainstream

A recent market report finds that meat alternatives in Japan have become increasingly mainstream, driven partly by a shift in consciousness since the pandemic, as well as a high acceptance of soy-based meat. The GlobalData report projects the Japanese market to reach JPY36.3 billion ($373.5 million) by 2026, with a CAGR of 5%. High affinity for soy The upswing is reportedly led by the country’s tendency towards soy-based products, which as we earlier reported, have witnessed a boom over the past two years. Soy-based foods such as soy sauce and miso are deeply ingrained in traditional Japanese culture, as such, meats created from soy are trusted by the Japanese consumer. Nikkei Asia reported in September that despite a 1.5X price increase on soybean crops since …

more

Organisations and brands:

2foods founders with award

© Two Inc
Facts & Figures

Japan’s 2foods Receives Enterprise Award at VEGAN AWARDS 2022

TWO Inc. of Japan announces that its plant-based food brand 2foods has received the Enterprise Award at VEGAN AWARDS 2022, the most prestigious award in the vegan/plant-based foods industry in Japan. The award ceremony nominated 100 individuals, companies, and organizations in Japan’s plant-based industry and presented awards to those with the most outstanding contribution to the development of Japanese veganism. Nominees were selected across the fields of medicine, academia/sciences, cooking, animal welfare, yoga, health, environment, beauty, media, and more. 2foods was presented with the Enterprise Award in recognition of its commitment to the creation of a new vegan lifestyle, targeting the younger generation to make plant-based products appealing to the modern Japanese consumer and bringing about positive changes to the Japanese plant-based food market as …

more

Organisations and brands:

2foods_shibuya

©2foods
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

2Foods Raises $4.4 Million to Grow Plant-Based Food Business in Japan

TWO Inc., the company behind Japan’s plant-based food brand 2foods, reports to vegconomist it has raised USD 4.4 million in Series A from Kagome Corporation, Japan’s largest producer of processed tomato products, to accelerate growth for the plant-based processed food business. Following news from Japan that the alt-meat market is beginning to take off since its government declared it an “important sector” in 2020, Tokyo-based well-being business TWO entered the vegan food market by launching its plant-based food brand called 2foods with around 60 types of plant-based foods, desserts, and drinks. Kagome Corporation is a strategic partner to build a business foundation for TWO’s plant-based brand 2foods, as it holds a dominant position in Japan and Asia with 60% of the Japanese domestic market share …

more

Organisations and brands:

MOS Burger

© MOS Burger
Market & Trends

Japanese Alt-Meat Market Surges as Government Labels It an “Important Sector”

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 …

more

Wayback NextMeat Burger

PRNewswire
Products & Launches

Japan’s Next Meats Co. Announces Collaboration with US Burger Chain Wayback Burgers

As hinted at in our interview this week, Tokyo’s Next Meats Co has announced a new collaboration with Wayback Burgers, a popular US burger chain and one of the fastest growing burger franchises in the country. According to Seeking Alpha, Next Meat stock has dropped 20% despite the announcement. In addition, Next Meats announced that its vegan-friendly NEXT Yakiniku Short Rib – the world’s first Japanese-style plant-based grilled meat – will be available in the US with the launch of its highly anticipated online e-commerce shop on 23 June. As part of the collaboration, Next Meats Co. and Wayback Burgers will be giving away free samples of the East Meats Next® Slider and Pioneer Slider at the Sacramento Vegan Food Festival on Saturday, June 19. …

more

Organisations and brands:

NextMeats Japan

©NextMeats
Interviews

NEXT MEATS: “We Will Apply To Nasdaq and Aim to Be the Fastest In The World From Establishment To Becoming Listed”

Japan’s NEXT MEATS became the first publicly listed plant-based startup in the country, however, the company has lofty ambitions and states it is still far from the corporate philosophy of “saving the earth”. “We are talking with the CEO of a particular US fast-food chain for the launch” Plant-Based Japan Inc. (former freefrom Inc.), a Japanese contributor to vegconomist, interviewed Mr. Ryo Shirai, co-representative of NEXT MEATS, a meat alternative producer steadily showing the fastest growth not just within Japan but in the whole of Asia. It’s been about a year since the company was established. How is the response in Japan so far? As reported in the previous article, the major supermarket chain Ito-Yokado in Japan has also switched from the initial sales marketing …

more

Organisations and brands:

IKEA's plant based curry with Next Meats' signature NEXT Gyudon on top.

IKEA vegan beef bowl ©Next Meats
Products & Launches

Japan’s Next Meats Collaborates With IKEA For “World’s First Plant-Based Japanese Beef Bowl”

Tokyo alt meat producer Next Meats Co. announces it will be taking part in IKEA Japan’s Sustainable Food Fair starting tomorrow May 20th, during which consumers can sample IKEA’s plant-based curry topped with Next Meats’ signature plant-based beef, the NEXT Gyudon. This February, the company became listed on the American OTC Market as NEXT MEATS HOLDINGS, INC (NXMH) after acquiring an American SPAC, paving its path into the American stock market. The company claims that the NEXT Gyudon is the world’s first plant based substitute of the Japanese ‘beef bowl’, a staple dish in the country with many restaurants specialising in this dish alone. The NEXT Gyudon is made from soy without any artificial additives and is said to replicate the texture as well as …

more

Organisations and brands:

ONODERA GROUP, LEOC Co.,Ltd Executive Chef Hitoshi Sugiura

ONODERA GROUP, LEOC Co.,Ltd Executive Chef Hitoshi Sugiura
Interviews

Japan’s Executive Chef, Hitoshi Sugiura: “We’d Like to Offer Vegan Cuisine at More Than 1,000 canteens”

Although Japan will hold the Olympic Games in 2021, many of us might view the nation as far from vegetarian and vegan friendly. Meanwhile, the movement called “1,000 Vegan Project” is gathering attention. Hiroto Yamazaki of Tokyo’s freefrom interviewed ONODERA GROUP / LEOC Co‘s Executive Chef, Hitoshi Sugiura for vegconomist.

more

go-sake-berlin sake

© Go-Sake
Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Berlin-Based Startup Brings Vegan Japanese Sake to Germany

Berlin is the German capital of Weg-Bier (“beer for the road”) and exciting new international food trends. It is also the birthplace of the first “Weg-Sake” which will be designed in Germany. The company Go-Sake, founded in 2017, started out with the aim of bringing the Japanese national drink to the attention of Germans and clearing up the prejudices surrounding it.

more

Sea urchin in woman's hand. Stock Photo

© peych_p - stock.adobe.com
Products & Launches

Fuji Oil Creates Vegan Alternative to Japanese Sea Urchin Delicacy

Whether it be Impossible Foods’ Fishless Fish or BlueNalu’s cell-based fish meat, the vegan seafood revolution is well underway. Even more niche dishes are coming to market, in this case the innards of the sea urchin, a delicacy known as “uni” in Japan, which has now been adapted for the vegan market by a company called Fuji Oil.

more

Organisations and brands: