Japan

CBD Products Making a Move into Mainstream Channels in Japan

CBD products are increasing in the Japanese market, taking steps to move from a niche product into mainstream channels. Although the Japanese government hasn’t explicitly legalized CBD (and continues to strictly ban cannabis itself and any trace of THC), Japan allows importation of some types of CBD products as long as the products remain within the guidelines of several key relevant laws. CBD products first entered Japan around 2016 and have been continually expanding their market. Now, some mainstream retail chains have begun to handle CBD products and a CBD specialty store opened just this year in Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku.

cbd products in japan

Discount retailer Don Quijote has shelves of CBD vape liquid and HealthyTOKYO cafe in Harajuku offers original CBD beverages.

Don Quijote, one of the largest discount chain stores in Japan, with almost 400 branches nationally, sells a large variety of CBD vape products such as CBD vape liquids, cartridges, and disposable vaping devices. Don Quijote handles overseas brands such as NATUuR CBD, as well as domestic CBD vape liquid brands like Kamikaze and Tsukinoha. Not all branches of Don Quijote handle CBD products, but the fact that this kind of mega-chain has started to sell CBD indicates that CBD awareness has moved to the next level in the Japanese market.

Vape products are not the only CBD products that you can find in Japan. Biople by CosmeKitchen, a shop that sells natural and organic cosmetics, sells foreign branded health and beauty CBD products such as EliXinol’s CBD oil, Endoca’s CBD capsules and Medeterra’s CBD cream. Biople has 18 stores in Japan and some outlets are located in well-known department stores such as Lumine and OIOI (Marui).

While Don Quijote and Biople sell a variety of CBD products, they don’t have their own branded products. HealthyTOKYO CBD Shop & Café, the first CBD specialty store in Japan just opened this year, sells its own branded CBD products. HealthyTOKYO not only sells CBD oil, cream, and capsules but also CBD snacks, coffees, teas and cocoa in their café. According to the manager, their own private brand HealthyTOKYO CBD is the best-selling of their product lines. The store’s main customers are non-Japanese people and travelers, and therefore sales have unfortunately dropped recently due to COVID19 and the decline in tourists.

With CBD products beginning to appear in popular discount chains and well-known department stores, as well as many online channels, it is clear that CBD has entered a new phase of market expansion. As more people become aware of what CBD is, we expect further domestic product development, increased imports and potentially new usages in health, beauty and food products.

Interested in understanding more about the CBD market in Japan or understanding the steps that exporters have to take in order to export CBD products to Japan? Reach out to us at inquiry@merosconsulting.com

What is CBD?

CBD (Cannabidiol) is a chemical compound found in cannabis. Unlike the cannabis compound THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) that makes a user feel “high”, the chemical compound CBD is associated with health benefits such as relaxation of the mind and body and relief of anxiety and worry. Products such as oils, cosmetics, and even snacks that contain CBD are increasingly popular in many countries around the world.

04 Nov

Insect Cuisine Takes the Stage in Tokyo

Posted by Team Meros in Market Trends, Uncategorized

With all the talk in our food and agriculture world of alternative proteins and the potential of insect protein, this month’s Insect Experience Day was not something we could miss. The event was hosted by The Finnish Institute in Japan and Nishiogi Place to highlight the intersection of science, art and food and featured the tasting and experiencing of… bugs. On display were a great mixture of locally produced and imported snacks and drinks that all had some variety of insect as a key ingredient. The event also featured panels and discussions highlighting the nutritional benefits of different insects for humans.

The value of the global edible insect market is skyrocketing and is expected to reach at least $1.3 billion by 2025. While the vast majority of this insect protein production is for the animal feed market, insect protein for human foods has garnered some buzz as a niche eco-friendly ingredient in products sold in North America, EU, South America and other countries. In Japan, however, the trend is still at an early stage.

Some of the showcased products included locally produced Cricket rice cracker snacks made from Japanese brown rice and cricket-based ingredients from Canada. Another local product was Tagame Cider – a type of soda with lethocerus (giant water bug) extract that contributed to the fruity taste of the beverage.

While insects are a popular and traditional snack in many parts of Asia and have a tradition in Japan as well, insect products are rarely found at modern Japanese retailers. Insect Experience Day was a step towards increasing consumers’ awareness of insects as a food ingredient and encouraging curiosity about these high-protein, nutritionally-rich creatures that appeared to horrify some visitors and be palatable to others.

*Other mouthwatering buggy products included cricket chocolate (delicious, our team reported), Bug Bites (a cricket protein snack from Finland) and locally produced jars of locust hornet larva.*

Ever wonder what the most delicious insect to humans might be? According to expert Shoichi Uchiyama, it is the larva of the long-horned beetle, which tastes like fatty tuna. This is not to be confused with the common beetle which is not tasty at all! Can we eat cockroaches? Yes, totally fine if you are ok with the unpleasant smell… According to Uchiyama, who has written an insect recipe book and runs the website Konchu Ryori Kenkyu (Bug-eating Recipe Studies), the taste of insects changes depending on what they have eaten.

Not your usual pepperoncino pasta: bug cuisine advocate and chef Shoichi Unchiyama demonstrated how insects, such as giant meal worms, can be used as meat substitutes in well-known dishes like spaghetti pepperoncino.

Dr. Aikawa from Japan’s scientific research center RIKEN explained why insects are considered the ideal future protein source: insect production uses fewer resources, less feed and has a lower environmental impact than other protein sources. With protein demand expected to increase 1.4 times by 2050, there is likely to be pressure on meat protein sources – insect protein may be able to help fill this demand. While insect consumption is common in many, if not most, parts of the world, many modern consumers are unwilling to eat bugs. Insect marketers still face a significant hurdle to convince consumers to put bugs on their plate. Nevertheless Insect Experience Day may have succeeded in converting some of visitors to the potential of insect cuisine and insect protein.

27 Sep

Meros – USDA Food Export Guides to Japan Online Now

Posted by Team Meros in News, Publications

Meros recently teamed up with the US Embassy Japan’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) to develop a series of export guides that detail the regulatory requirements for 24 specific products, from cheese to chocolate, herbal tea to wine. While the aim is to support American SMEs who are interested in exporting food products to Japan, the detailed guides can be of interest to food exporters of all levels of experience.

Exporting to Japan can seem daunting with numerous required forms and official resources not always available in English. In these guides, we take potential exporters step-by-step from pre-embarkation to import clearance and lay out the expected forms and preparations necessary at each stage.

For new food exporters to Japan, common challenges include differences in food additive standards which may mean a product that is allowed for food products in the home country may not always be allowed in Japan. Japan’s strict, low tolerance standards for agrochemical residues (MRLs) also trips up some potential exporters. These guides aim to point out some of these common pitfalls in advance, so exporters are better prepared. They are not meant as “do-it-yourself” guides but as a tool to help exporters better navigate the export process together with their Japanese importers and distributors.

We provide examples of required ingredients lists, manufacturing process charts as well as labelling for each type of product – but it is important for exporters to always keep in mind that requirements can change without notice – especially whenever sanitary or phytosanitary risks are involved. Ultimately, a successful export business to Japan require ongoing vigilance for regulatory changes, as well as strong relationships with importers and partners in Japan.

All guides are available here: https://www.usdajapan.org/export-guidance/