Founded in 2020, Umami Bioworks has developed cell-cultivated seafood, including eel, caviar, and white fish

Singapore’s Umami Bioworks to Launch Japan’s First Lab-Grown Seafood Facility by 2027

JAPAN
Friday, October 17, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Pioneer Commits $9.9 Million to Tokyo Site and AI Research Hub as Japan Moves to Regulate Cultivated Foods

Singapore-based seafood biotechnology pioneer, Umami Bioworks, is set to establish Japan's first production facility for cell-cultivated seafood by 2027. The company is investing approximately ¥1.5 billion (about $9.9 million US$) in the initial facility in central Tokyo, marking a significant step in the nation's adoption of alternative protein technology, according to Nikkei.

Strategic Production and AI-Driven R&D

The initial Tokyo facility will have a modest output of between 10 and 50 kilograms of cultivated seafood per month. However, Umami Bioworks plans to scale rapidly, aiming for a larger facility as early as 2028 with a target output of 1,000 to 2,000 kilograms per month, contingent on market demand. The initial project will be funded through a joint investment with an undisclosed Japanese partner.

In parallel, the company will launch a second Japanese facility focused on artificial intelligence (AI). This research center, which could begin operations as early as 2026, will use AI to optimize the cell culture process, accelerating growth and refining flavor.

Nina Honda, Umami Bioworks’ Japan country manager, highlighted the strategic importance of the location: "We have more partners in Japan than in other countries. We’ll deepen our understanding of Japanese consumers and optimize the taste and texture for the market."

Tackling Global and Local Challenges

Founded in 2020, Umami Bioworks has developed cell-cultivated seafood, including eel, caviar, and white fish. The company operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, providing technology to food manufacturers, rather than selling end-consumer products. Its technology is species-agnostic, allowing it to reproduce nearly any fish species by adjusting nutrient balances, claiming an 83% faster development time and 97% cost reduction for tuna compared with its initial work on eel.

In Japan, Umami Bioworks is collaborating with Maruha Nichiro, one of the country's largest seafood companies. Despite operating small production sites in Singapore and India (up to 50 kilograms/month each), Honda acknowledged that mass cultivation remains a global challenge with only "a handful [of companies] in the world" capable of doing it.

Regulatory Environment Catching Up

The investment comes as Japan prepares to define the future of cultivated foods. While countries like Singapore, the U.S., and Israel have already approved certain cell-based products for commercial sale, Japan still lacks a formal regulatory framework.

The Consumer Affairs Agency began formal discussions on regulating cultivated food in late 2023, with official rules expected around 2026. Hideki Katagiri, an agri-food technology lawyer at Nishimura & Asahi, noted that while coordinating with the Food Safety Commission will be "a complex process," there is "hope that Japan will establish a reasonable regulatory environment."

This promising environment has also attracted competitors, with Israeli firm Forsea Foods planning to establish a cell-based eel facility in Kyoto. As Japan seeks to secure its future food supply and address concerns about overfishing and climate change, the entry of Umami Bioworks is a milestone in redefining its centuries-old relationship with ocean resources.

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