Japan's mackerel in crisis! Canned production slashed, affordable national food turns into a luxury item

The crisis is particularly evident in the processing stage. Matsutomo Michihito, head of the market department at Kinoya Ishinomaki Suisan Inc. in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, pointed out the severity of the situation: "The production of canned mackerel has fallen to one-thirtieth of what it was ten years ago." This company produces high-quality "Kinka Saba" (mackerel), with raw materials sourced from Ishinomaki Port, one of the main mackerel ports in the Tohoku region. Due to difficulties in procuring raw materials, the company has been forced to suspend sales multiple times. The consequences are evident—Matsutomo confirmed: "The procurement price for mackerel used in canned products has doubled over the past three years." The plight of this industry in Japan is exacerbated by the halt in production of a well-known brand. The Western-style brand "Ca va? Can," popular for its bright packaging and olive oil base, was once a symbol of reconstruction after the 2011 Tohoku ...