Farmed Fish Breakthrough Delivers Unprecedented Melt-in-the-Mouth TextureWinner of the 2025 Kyushu Region Invention Award
December 26, 2025
Maruha Nichiro Corporation has received both the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation Chairman's Award and the Implementation Achievement Award at the 2025 Local Commendation for Invention of Kyushu presented by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation. These honors recognize the company’s successful patented invention of techniques to produce “melt-in-the-mouth farmed fish texture,” made possible through innovation developed by Maruha Nichiro employees.
Overview of the invention
This breakthrough in texture was achieved by feeding farmed yellowtail a solid fishmeal-based diet supplemented with carefully balanced amounts of vegetable and fish oils. This formulation produces fish with low-melting-point fat, giving the sashimi its melt-in-the-mouth quality. At the same time, we enhanced the overall taste by increasing monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, in the feed and reducing the melting point of edible oils by approximately one-third.
Compared to wild fish and current farmed fish, the result is a culinary breakthrough of yellowtail sashimi with dark meat that browns more slowly, a sumptuous melt-in-the-mouth texture, more umami components and fewer bitter components, and less fishy odor.
Maruha Nichiro further ensures the consistent high quality of its farmed yellowtail by strictly controlling feed and growth rates, using only solid feed.
Inventions
Melt-in-the-mouth farmed fish texture (patent no. 7248765)
Chairman’s Award Winners
| Company and position | Inventors |
|---|---|
| Maruha Nichiro AQUA Co., Ltd., President and CEO | Kotaro Fujita |
| Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Aquaculture Operation Department, Fresh Fish Sales Section | Hiroki Ogawa |
| Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Central Research Institute, Food Tech Research Section, Deputy Manager | Akira Kamata |
| Maruha Nichiro Corporation, Central Research Institute, Food Tech Development Section, Chief | Sayaka Kawarazaki |
Implementation Achievement Award Winner
| Company and position | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Maruha Nichiro Corporation, President & CEO, Representative Director | Masaru Ikemi |
Maruha Nichiro is committed to enriching people’s lives by offering foods that deliver health benefits and support a sustainable society.
Contact for media inquiries:
Brand Communication & Public Relations Group,
Corporate Planning Department,
Maruha Nichiro Corporation
koho@maruha-nichiro.co.jp
