Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Yamaguchi launches Japan's first land-based white tilefish farm
Yamaguchi Prefecture and private partners have started Japan's first land-based white tilefish farming project in Nagato, western Japan.
White tilefish are a prized fish, but wild catches are very limited and an individual fish can sell for more than 100,000 yen.
The project brings together the prefecture, Sushiro parent company Food & Life Companies and Nagato-based Ando Corp., which runs the facility.
About 1,500 young fish are being raised in an indoor tank, with the water kept cool because the species is vulnerable to high temperatures.
They are expected to reach market size in about two years, and the partners aim to establish commercial production by the end of 2028.
The project aims to provide a stable supply of a fish that is difficult to obtain from wild catches.
The partners eventually plan to sell the farmed fish at Sushiro restaurants.
Yamaguchi Prefecture has launched Japan’s first land-based aquaculture project for white tilefish, a rare luxury fish.
The project brings together the prefecture, Sushiro parent company Food & Life Companies and other partners.
A facility in Nagato is raising about 1,500 juvenile fish in a temperature-controlled indoor tank.
The project aims to establish commercial production by the end of 2028, with the fish eventually sold at Sushiro restaurants.
- Who
- Yamaguchi Prefecture, Food & Life Companies, Ando Corp. and other partners.
- What
- They have launched Japan’s first land-based white tilefish aquaculture project.
- When
- The facility was opened to the media on Nov. 5, 2026.
- Where
- Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
- Why
- The project aims to establish commercial production and eventually sell farmed fish at Sushiro restaurants.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yamaguchi Prefectural Fisheries Research Center became the first in Japan to mass-produce artificially propagated white tilefish juveniles from eggs collected from wild fish.
The Nagato land-based aquaculture facility was opened to the media, with about 1,500 juvenile fish in its tank.
The project aims to establish commercial production.
- Juvenile fish
- About 1,500, each roughly 20 centimeters long and weighing 70 grams
- Tank
- 6.5 meters in diameter and holds 30 metric tons of water
- Target market size
- About 40 centimeters long and 500 grams in roughly two years
- Commercial production target
- By the end of 2028
- Location
- Senzaki district, Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture
What people are saying
We want to raise them carefully so that we can ensure a stable supply and make them better known.
It's a valuable fish, and we hope to make it available to as many customers as possible.