[Food Loss Reduction × Regional Revitalization] Unused Marlin from Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Transformed into Exquisite Fast Food with Traditional Techniques of Aichi's Long-Established 'Yamasa Chikuwa'! 'Marlin Nuggets' to be Released Exclusively from Golden Week in May 2026
Yamasa Chikuwa, Share Local, and Amane Career have collaborated to develop 'Marlin Nuggets,' a new product utilizing unused marlin from Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture. Aiming to reduce food loss and revitalize the region, the product will be released exclusively from Golden Week in May 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 00:18 (13h 47m after Collected)
Yamasa Chikuwa Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, hereinafter Yamasa Chikuwa), in collaboration with Share Local LLC (Headquarters: Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, hereinafter Share Local), has developed a new product, 'Marlin Nuggets,' utilizing unused fish landed in Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture.
In this project, Amane Career Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, hereinafter Amane Career) supported the matching of the two companies and sustainable product development from the perspective of "co-creation design."
This product will be launched for limited sale from Golden Week (GW) in 2026 at some Yamasa Chikuwa directly managed stores.
■ Development Background: The Challenge to Transform Regional Issue 'Unused Fish' into 'Delicious'
In the fishing port of Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, "unused fish" that are landed but discarded without entering distribution had become a problem.
In response to this regional issue, Share Local, which is working on regional revitalization by utilizing unused fish, took charge of the primary processing of fish in Susami Town, and Yamasa Chikuwa began the challenge of commercializing the product by leveraging its long-cultivated processed fish paste technology. This product was completed through on-site dialogues and prototypes by both companies.
The marlin landed in Susami Town was used this time. Although it is originally a high-quality white fish, it was not sufficiently utilized due to limited uses. By utilizing the processing technologies of both companies, it became possible to maximize its umami, resulting in fish nuggets that allow you to feel the original flavor of the fish.
■ Background of this Initiative (Inter-regional Collaboration through Cross-border and Co-creation)
Yamasa Chikuwa, in collaboration with Amane Career, is working on creating new culture and regional revitalization through "cross-border" and "co-creation" beyond the boundaries of companies and regions. In the course of these efforts, an opportunity arose to connect with Wakayama Prefecture and Susami Town through the '#Dam際ワーキング' cross-border learning program promoted by Amane Career, and to learn about issues related to regional marine resources. This connection led to collaboration with Share Local, which is working on utilizing unused fish in Susami Town, and the development of this product. By connecting regions and companies, it became possible to create new value by leveraging each other's strengths.
■ Product Features and Overview
The product adopts a "cup sale" format, ideal for eating on the go, and the packaging features a retro and pop "exclusive sticker" created by a designer specifically for this project. It is a dish filled with the traditional techniques of a long-established company and new regional charm.
Product Name: Marlin Nuggets
Release Date: Sales start from Golden Week in May 2026 (planned)
Price: 450 yen (tax included)
Contents: 7 pieces
Sales Location: Yamasa Chikuwa directly managed stores
■ Future Development
Through this initiative, Yamasa Chikuwa will contribute to the effective utilization of unused fish and the revitalization of the regional fisheries industry. We will continue to develop products utilizing fish from Susami Town in collaboration with Share Local, and work towards the sustainable use of marine resources and the creation of new food culture.
Amane Career will continue to strongly promote the realization of a sustainable society as a co-creation designer, accompanying regional producers and companies, who are the main actors, and designing "co-creation" between regions and companies.
■ Comments from Stakeholders
・Mr. Taisuke Kurano, Senior Managing Director, Yamasa Chikuwa Co., Ltd.
"We manufacture and sell processed fish paste products mainly in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. When I first visited Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, through this connection, I was very impressed by the enthusiastic efforts of the public and private sectors working together to revitalize the region in an advanced way. As a regional issue, there are fish that are discarded, and we thought that Yamasa Chikuwa, which has fish processing technology, could be of use, so we worked on commercializing the product. Through this initiative, we hope to add new value to unused fish and commercialize them as regional products, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the fisheries industry and the region as a whole."
・Ms. Hazuki Genguchi, Share Local LLC (Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture)
"We view unused fish as a regional potential and are working to transform it into value. In Susami Town, many of the approximately 80 fishermen are elderly, and there is a serious shortage of successors. By combining marlin, which has been landed but not utilized, with Yamasa Chikuwa's traditional processed fish paste technology, we were able to bring a new product to the world. By connecting regions and companies beyond boundaries, we maximize the value of resources and contribute to increasing fishermen's income and creating employment. We will expand this form of co-creation and create a sustainable cycle for regional industries."
・Ms. Amane Sawatari, Representative Director, Amane Career Co., Ltd.
"Our company aims to realize and popularize solutions to social issues and the creation of new value through cross-border and co-creation. This time, the issue of unused fish in Susami Town, Yamasa Chikuwa in Toyohashi City..."
In this project, Amane Career Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, hereinafter Amane Career) supported the matching of the two companies and sustainable product development from the perspective of "co-creation design."
This product will be launched for limited sale from Golden Week (GW) in 2026 at some Yamasa Chikuwa directly managed stores.
■ Development Background: The Challenge to Transform Regional Issue 'Unused Fish' into 'Delicious'
In the fishing port of Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, "unused fish" that are landed but discarded without entering distribution had become a problem.
In response to this regional issue, Share Local, which is working on regional revitalization by utilizing unused fish, took charge of the primary processing of fish in Susami Town, and Yamasa Chikuwa began the challenge of commercializing the product by leveraging its long-cultivated processed fish paste technology. This product was completed through on-site dialogues and prototypes by both companies.
The marlin landed in Susami Town was used this time. Although it is originally a high-quality white fish, it was not sufficiently utilized due to limited uses. By utilizing the processing technologies of both companies, it became possible to maximize its umami, resulting in fish nuggets that allow you to feel the original flavor of the fish.
■ Background of this Initiative (Inter-regional Collaboration through Cross-border and Co-creation)
Yamasa Chikuwa, in collaboration with Amane Career, is working on creating new culture and regional revitalization through "cross-border" and "co-creation" beyond the boundaries of companies and regions. In the course of these efforts, an opportunity arose to connect with Wakayama Prefecture and Susami Town through the '#Dam際ワーキング' cross-border learning program promoted by Amane Career, and to learn about issues related to regional marine resources. This connection led to collaboration with Share Local, which is working on utilizing unused fish in Susami Town, and the development of this product. By connecting regions and companies, it became possible to create new value by leveraging each other's strengths.
■ Product Features and Overview
The product adopts a "cup sale" format, ideal for eating on the go, and the packaging features a retro and pop "exclusive sticker" created by a designer specifically for this project. It is a dish filled with the traditional techniques of a long-established company and new regional charm.
Product Name: Marlin Nuggets
Release Date: Sales start from Golden Week in May 2026 (planned)
Price: 450 yen (tax included)
Contents: 7 pieces
Sales Location: Yamasa Chikuwa directly managed stores
■ Future Development
Through this initiative, Yamasa Chikuwa will contribute to the effective utilization of unused fish and the revitalization of the regional fisheries industry. We will continue to develop products utilizing fish from Susami Town in collaboration with Share Local, and work towards the sustainable use of marine resources and the creation of new food culture.
Amane Career will continue to strongly promote the realization of a sustainable society as a co-creation designer, accompanying regional producers and companies, who are the main actors, and designing "co-creation" between regions and companies.
■ Comments from Stakeholders
・Mr. Taisuke Kurano, Senior Managing Director, Yamasa Chikuwa Co., Ltd.
"We manufacture and sell processed fish paste products mainly in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture. When I first visited Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture, through this connection, I was very impressed by the enthusiastic efforts of the public and private sectors working together to revitalize the region in an advanced way. As a regional issue, there are fish that are discarded, and we thought that Yamasa Chikuwa, which has fish processing technology, could be of use, so we worked on commercializing the product. Through this initiative, we hope to add new value to unused fish and commercialize them as regional products, thereby contributing to the revitalization of the fisheries industry and the region as a whole."
・Ms. Hazuki Genguchi, Share Local LLC (Susami Town, Wakayama Prefecture)
"We view unused fish as a regional potential and are working to transform it into value. In Susami Town, many of the approximately 80 fishermen are elderly, and there is a serious shortage of successors. By combining marlin, which has been landed but not utilized, with Yamasa Chikuwa's traditional processed fish paste technology, we were able to bring a new product to the world. By connecting regions and companies beyond boundaries, we maximize the value of resources and contribute to increasing fishermen's income and creating employment. We will expand this form of co-creation and create a sustainable cycle for regional industries."
・Ms. Amane Sawatari, Representative Director, Amane Career Co., Ltd.
"Our company aims to realize and popularize solutions to social issues and the creation of new value through cross-border and co-creation. This time, the issue of unused fish in Susami Town, Yamasa Chikuwa in Toyohashi City..."