Why Choose Us

Our Strength

Competitive Edge

High Speed · Low Prices · High Quality

High Speed

Night procurement → next morning shipment
Optimized air and land routes reduce lead time
Flexible cutoff times for urgent demand

Low Prices

Competitive pricing through annual contracts and bulk procurement
Reduced intermediary costs through direct shipping
Transparent pricing linked to market conditions

High Quality

Live fish / ikejime / nerve-killing methods supported
Strict cold chain management
Traceability and origin certification
Aquaculture Network

At the Heart of Japan's Farmed Fish Belt

Kyushu and Ehime are the undisputed heart of Japanese aquaculture. Warm, sheltered coastal bays, year-round high water temperatures, and generations of farming expertise have made this region the #1 source of Japan's most prized farmed species — and Fukuoka sits at its gateway.

70%+
of Japan's farmed Madai from Ehime & Kumamoto alone
#1
Kagoshima — Japan's largest Kanpachi producer (Kinko Bay)
#1
Oita — Japan's largest Hirame producer (~31% of national output)
#1
Nagasaki — Japan's largest farmed Bluefin Tuna producer
Kagoshima · Miyazaki · Oita · Nagasaki
Yellowtail, Amberjack, Hiramasa & Striped Jack
Kagoshima ranks #1 nationally for Buri/Hamachi (21,600t), with Oita at #2 (14,800t) — Kyushu holds both top spots. Kagoshima's Kinko Bay is also Japan's #1 Kanpachi producer. Hiramasa and Shimaaji are farmed alongside these species in the same warm, sheltered bay environments year-round.
Buri (Yellowtail) Hamachi Kanpachi (Amberjack) Hiramasa Shimaaji (Striped Jack)
Kumamoto · Ehime · Nagasaki · Miyazaki
Sea Bream, Flounder, Tiger Prawn, Mackerel & Horse Mackerel
Ehime alone produces over 55% of Japan's farmed Madai (38,731t out of ~71,000t national output), with Kumamoto ranking #2. Together they account for over 70% of Japan's total farmed sea bream. Oita leads nationally in Hirame at ~31% of Japan's total. Kurumaebi, Saba and Aji round out Kyushu's coastal farming output.
Madai (Sea Bream) Hirame (Flounder) Kurumaebi (Tiger Prawn) Saba (Mackerel) Aji (Horse Mackerel)
Nagasaki · Kagoshima · Oita
Farmed Tuna, Fugu & Kue
Nagasaki ranks #1 nationally for farmed Bluefin Tuna (7,129t), with Kagoshima at #2 (3,584t) — together accounting for roughly 50% of Japan's total farmed Maguro output. Nagasaki is also a key Fugu farming region. Kue (longtooth grouper), one of Japan's most prized luxury fish, is farmed along Kyushu's southern coastline.
Farmed Tuna (Maguro) Fugu (Pufferfish) Kue (Longtooth Grouper)
Farm & Fishery Network

Our Network of Farms & Fisheries Across Kyushu & Western Japan

Kyushu and western Japan are home to Japan's most productive aquaculture regions. Each prefecture specialises in different species, shaped by local water conditions, bay geography and farming tradition. Advance Intertrade works with a network of farms and fisheries across Miyazaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Ehime, maintaining close relationships with producers to ensure consistent quality, freshness and supply stability for our export customers.

Source: Japan Fisheries Agency (JFA) · MAFF Fisheries White Paper · Marine aquaculture statistics

  • Kagoshima — Leading producer of buri, hamachi and kanpachi. Kagoshima Bay's warm sheltered waters support Japan's highest-volume yellowtail farming.
  • Miyazaki — Active farming of madai, buri and hirame. Warm Pacific-facing waters enable year-round stable production.
  • Kumamoto — Japan's 2nd largest sea bream (madai) producing prefecture, with mineral-rich Ariake Sea conditions.
  • Nagasaki — Diverse multi-species farming including yellowtail, madai and certified farmed bluefin tuna. Extensive island coastline.
  • Oita — Premium fugu (blowfish), buri and kue farming. Highly regarded for ikejime-ready, high-quality fish.
  • Ehime — One of western Japan's top madai and hamachi farming prefectures, with consistent quality and volume.
Strategic Sourcing Architecture

Three Markets. One Complete Supply Chain.

No single Japanese fish market covers every dimension of premium seafood. Fukuoka, Toyosu, and Sapporo each dominate different waters, seasons, and species — and each fills the other's blind spots. Together they form a seamless, complementary sourcing system.

🌊 FUKUOKA 🏙️ TOYOSU ❄️ SAPPORO
Geographic Specialty
Kyushu & W. Japan
National Aggregator
Hokkaido & North
Species Variety
~300 species annually
Multi-origin, nationwide
Specialized cold-water
Freshness & Export Speed
Producer → airport, same day
+1 transit step for Kyushu fish
Air via New Chitose Airport
Cold-Water Exclusives
Gap — filled by Sapporo
Limited — filled by Sapporo
Uni · King Crab · Scallops
Kyushu & Warm-Water Fish
Wild + farmed, direct access
Longer chain, less fresh
Not available — filled by Fukuoka
Premium Bluefin Tuna
Limited — filled by Toyosu
~1,200 tuna traded daily
Pacific varieties, seasonal
Live Seafood Capability
Aquarium holding · ikejime on-site
Limited live selection
Live crab & sea urchin
Direct Farm & Fisher Access
8+ partner ports, farmed contracts
More transactional structure
Kushiro dock partnerships
Operating Cost Efficiency
Lowest — regional vs Tokyo rates
High Tokyo overhead
Mid-range
Market Scale & Liquidity
596t exported 2023 · 2nd in W. Japan
World's largest fish market · 408,000 m²
~270 t/day · ¥300M daily transactions
Complementarity

How Each Market Fills the Others' Gaps

Fukuoka Fills
What Toyosu & Sapporo Cannot Match
  • Kyushu wild & farmed fish with same-day export freshness — no extra transit step
  • Live seafood capability via on-site aquarium holding before shipment
  • Ikejime & nerve-kill processing at source — maximizes shelf life on arrival
  • Lower operating costs — scales without Tokyo labor & facility overhead
  • Direct farmer & fisherman relationships enabling fixed-volume contracts
  • Grouper, live shellfish & premium species for Asian & Chinese cuisine
  • 10 minutes from Fukuoka Airport — morning purchase → afternoon international flight
~300 species · 596 t exported 2023 · National Export Award · 8+ partner fishing ports
Toyosu Fills
What Fukuoka & Sapporo Cannot Match
  • Top-grade bluefin tuna — ~1,200 fresh & frozen tuna traded every single day
  • Multi-origin national variety: same species from multiple regions simultaneously
  • Species outside Kyushu & Hokkaido geographic coverage
  • Established importer/exporter infrastructure & deep market liquidity
  • Competitive price dynamics — heavy supplier competition during abundance
  • Broad sushi & omakase sourcing depth for nationwide Japanese restaurant supply
  • Fallback supply buffer when regional markets face seasonal gaps
World's largest fish market · 408,000 m² · ~450 wholesale traders · Tokyo, Japan
Sapporo Fills
What Neither Fukuoka Nor Toyosu Can Match
  • Premium sea urchin (uni) — cold Hokkaido waters produce unmatched richness & creaminess
  • King crab (tarabagani) & snow crab (zuwaigani) sourced at origin price
  • Hokkaido scallops — cold-sweetened, oversized, impossible to replicate in warmer waters
  • Wild salmon & ikura (salmon roe) at peak Hokkaido seasonal quality
  • Kelp-fed shellfish — distinctive northern terroir, premium positioning
  • Hairy crab (kegani) — northern Japan exclusive, highly prized
  • Direct access via Sapporo Central Wholesale Market & Kushiro fishing docks
~270 t/day · ¥300M daily transactions · Sapporo Central Wholesale Market est. 1959 · "Hokkaido's Kitchen"
Product Specialization

Signature Species by Market

🌊
Fukuoka Market
Kyushu & Western Japan
Sea Bream (Tai) Yellowtail (Hamachi) Amberjack (Buri) Horse Mackerel (Aji) Grouper (Live) Fugu (Blowfish) Live Crabs & Shellfish Squid Oysters Farmed Tuna Mackerel (Saba)
Freshness edge · Best for live & ikejime · Direct Kyushu origin
🏙️
Toyosu Market
Tokyo · National Hub
Bluefin Tuna (Hon-maguro) Bigeye Tuna Yellowfin Tuna Flounder (Hirame) Multi-origin Salmon National Sea Bream Swordfish Octopus National Shrimp Eel (Unagi)
Variety edge · Best for sushi & omakase · World's largest selection
❄️
Sapporo Market
Hokkaido · Cold-Water Premium
Sea Urchin (Uni) King Crab (Tarabagani) Snow Crab (Zuwaigani) Hairy Crab (Kegani) Hokkaido Scallops Wild Salmon Salmon Roe (Ikura) Kelp-Fed Abalone Hokkaido Flounder
Exclusivity edge · Best for cold-water premium · Unique northern terroir

Ready to Source from Japan?

Contact our export team to discuss your sourcing requirements.

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