(TOKYO, JAPAN) – Japanese seafood producer Ichimasa Kamaboko is targeting sales of 283 million US dollars (about 41.5 billion Japanese yen, or roughly 222 million British pounds) as it moves to a holding company structure and expands its overseas business.
The company is known for its crab stick products sold in grocery stores across Japan. The shift to a holding company model is designed to give each business unit more freedom to grow while the parent company focuses on group strategy and international expansion.
Ichimasa Kamaboko has identified overseas markets as a key source of future revenue growth. The company plans to strengthen its presence outside Japan as part of the new structure.
The move comes as Japanese food exporters continue to face varying levels of import scrutiny in some markets. Hong Kong has maintained restrictions on aquatic products from 10 Japanese prefectures since 2023. The measures followed Japan’s plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power station.
Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety said on Wednesday that tests on 127 food samples imported from Japan between August 11 and August 12 found no samples exceeding safety limits. The samples were in the aquatic products, sea salt and seaweed category.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in Hong Kong also tested 50 samples of local catch for radiological levels. All samples passed.
Since August 24, 2023, Hong Kong authorities have tested 251,172 samples of food imported from Japan, including 157,037 samples of aquatic and related products, seaweeds and sea salt, and 53,850 samples of local catch. All samples passed the tests.
Ichimasa Kamaboko has not indicated that the Hong Kong import restrictions have affected its current sales targets. The company’s overseas push is focused on building demand for its processed seafood products in markets where Japanese food remains popular.
The holding company shift is expected to allow faster decision making on international investments and product development. Company management said the new structure would help it respond more quickly to changes in consumer demand outside Japan.