Fujimitsu Corporation

Fujimitsu Corporation is a Japanese food manufacturer specializing in processed fish products made from surimi, the minced and refined fish paste used in products such as kamaboko, chikuwa, and imitation crab. The company is headquartered in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a coastal area with a long history of fish processing. Its origins date to 1887, when the business was established in Senzaki, now part of Nagato. This location and its surrounding seafood economy have remained central to Fujimitsu's identity and manufacturing base. The business became incorporated in 1964 under the name Fujimitsu Kamaboko Industry Co. and moved to its present Higashifukawa location in Nagato in 1967. Its production network later included facilities in Misumi and Senzaki as well as the head-office plant in Higashifukawa. On March 1, 2007, the company adopted the name Fujimitsu Corporation as part of a corporate identity revision, signaling a broader presentation of the business beyond its earlier kamaboko-industry designation. Fujimitsu produces standard Japanese surimi foods, including kamaboko, chikuwa, and kanikama, the Japanese term commonly used for imitation crab. Alongside these familiar categories, it has developed differentiated snack and convenience products. One cited example is Cheese Colone, a bite-size kamaboko product containing a cheese-food filling. Cheese Colone received a bronze medal at Monde Selection in 2010 and was also associated with Moomin characters in marketing materials. Food safety and quality management have been notable elements of the company's manufacturing development. Fujimitsu obtained ISO 22000 certification, the international standard for food-safety management systems, on September 16, 2008. Several affiliated businesses also obtained the certification, including Hakata Uoka in 2007 and Sankyu Suisan in 2009. The company has expanded through affiliated businesses and overseas cooperation. In 2000, it made Sankyu Suisan a subsidiary through a merger and acquisition; Sankyu Suisan continued supplying surimi products to kiosks at JR Kyushu stations. In 2005, Fujimitsu acquired the long-established Fukuoka kamaboko company Uoka and established Hakata Uoka as an operating company. Other affiliated activities have included community broadcasting through FM Nagato, organic agriculture through Kirara Organic Life, and the sale of Hakata-branded gifts through Hakata Nakamuraya. Fujimitsu also pursued production cooperation in China. In April 2010, it agreed with Rongcheng Taixiang Aquatic Food Co., a member of the Taixiang Group, to establish Rongcheng Taizheng Tengguang Foods in Rongcheng, Shandong Province. The joint venture manufactures boil-in-the-bag oden, imitation crab, chikuwa, fried foods, and other surimi products for the Chinese market and for export to Japan, South Korea, and other Asian markets. A reference source described Fujimitsu as Japan's eighth-largest surimi manufacturer by sales in 2008, although the underlying sales figure is not provided here. Overall, Fujimitsu combines regional Japanese seafood manufacturing, branded processed-food development, affiliated businesses, and selected overseas production partnerships.

Fujimitsu's history begins in 1887 in Senzaki, a seaside village that is now part of Nagato in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The business developed within the local seafood economy and became associated with kamaboko and other processed fish products. Its early history predates the modern corporate structure, reflecting a transition from a traditional regional food operation to an organized manufacturer. In 1964, the enterprise was incorporated as Fujimitsu Kamaboko Industry Co. This formalization gave the company a corporate framework while retaining the kamaboko name that described its principal product category. Three years later, in 1967, Fujimitsu moved to its current Higashifukawa location in Nagato. The company subsequently operated additional plants in Misumi and Senzaki, maintaining a manufacturing presence close to its historical base. Fujimitsu expanded its business relationships through acquisitions and affiliated companies. In 2000, Sankyu Suisan, a surimi manufacturer originally established as an affiliated company of the Kyushu branch of Tetsudou Kousaikai, became a Fujimitsu subsidiary through a merger and acquisition. Sankyu Suisan continued to market products through kiosks at JR Kyushu stations. In 2005, Fujimitsu acquired Uoka, a long-established kamaboko company in Fukuoka, and established Hakata Uoka as its operating company. These moves extended the company's reach beyond its Yamaguchi base and into regional retail and transport-related channels. The company changed its name to Fujimitsu Corporation on March 1, 2007. The change formed part of a corporate identity makeover and presented the business under a shorter name not limited to the word kamaboko. Food-safety management became another important development. Hakata Uoka obtained ISO 22000 certification on September 7, 2007, and Fujimitsu itself obtained the international food-safety management certification on September 16, 2008. Sankyu Suisan followed with certification on July 16, 2009. Fujimitsu has combined established surimi categories with product innovation. Its range includes kamaboko, chikuwa, and imitation crab, while Cheese Colone represents a more distinctive snack format: small kamaboko balls containing a cheese-food filling. The product received a bronze medal from Monde Selection in 2010 and was marketed using Moomin characters. The available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of subsequent product development or current sales channels. The company also developed an international manufacturing relationship in China. On April 29, 2010, Fujimitsu signed an agreement with Rongcheng Taixiang Aquatic Food, a member of the Taixiang Group. The resulting joint venture, Rongcheng Taizheng Tengguang Foods, is located in Rongcheng, Shandong Province. It manufactures boil-in-the-bag oden, imitation crab, chikuwa, fried foods, and other surimi products. Its output serves customers in China and is also intended for export to Japan, South Korea, and other Asian markets. Fujimitsu's broader affiliated network has included FM Nagato, a community radio station; Kirara Organic Life, an organic farm offering visitor vegetable-picking activities; and Hakata Nakamuraya, a jointly invested business selling Hakata-branded gifts. These activities show a corporate group extending beyond fish products, although surimi manufacturing remains the central business described in the available sources. A 2008 reference characterized Fujimitsu as Japan's eighth-largest surimi manufacturer by sales, but no underlying sales amount is available in the supplied material.

• 2010

  Chinese joint venture agreed

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu agreed to establish Rongcheng Taizheng Tengguang Foods with Rongcheng Taixiang Aquatic Food in China.

• 2008

  ISO 22000 certification

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu obtained ISO 22000 food-safety management certification on September 16.

• 2007

  Corporate name change

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the name Fujimitsu Corporation on March 1 as part of a corporate identity revision.

• 2005

  Acquisition of Uoka and creation of Hakata Uoka

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu acquired Fukuoka kamaboko company Uoka and established Hakata Uoka as its operating company.

• 2000

  Sankyu Suisan becomes a subsidiary

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu made Sankyu Suisan a subsidiary through a merger and acquisition.

• 1967

  Move to Higashifukawa

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu moved to its current Higashifukawa location in Nagato.

• 1964

  Incorporation as Fujimitsu Kamaboko Industry

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The business was reorganized as Fujimitsu Kamaboko Industry Co.

• 1887

  Business founded in Senzaki

  [1]Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Fujimitsu was founded in the seaside village of Senzaki, now part of Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

A regional Japanese seafood-processing company focused on surimi-based foods, combining traditional kamaboko manufacturing with convenient, filled, snack-oriented, and export-oriented products.

• Surimi food

  Kamaboko

  Kamaboko is a traditional Japanese processed-fish product made from surimi and formed into a firm, sliceable loaf or related shape. It is one of Fujimitsu's core product categories and connects the company to the long-established seafood-processing traditions of Nagato and the wider Japanese market.

• Surimi food

  Chikuwa

  Chikuwa is a tube-shaped processed fish product made from surimi. Fujimitsu manufactures chikuwa for the Japanese market, while the company's Chinese joint venture also produces chikuwa for domestic Chinese sales and export to Asian markets.

• Imitation crab

  Kanikama

  Kanikama is Japanese imitation crab made from surimi and formulated to resemble crab meat in appearance and texture. It is among Fujimitsu's standard surimi offerings and is also manufactured by its Rongcheng joint venture for China, Japan, South Korea, and other Asian markets.

• Filled surimi snack

  Cheese Colone

  Cheese Colone consists of bite-size balls of kamaboko with a cheese-food filling. It is an example of Fujimitsu's effort to extend surimi beyond conventional loaves and seafood sides into a convenient snack format. The product won a bronze medal from Monde Selection in 2010 and was marketed with Moomin characters.

• Prepared food

  Boil-in-the-bag oden

  Boil-in-the-bag oden is a packaged prepared-food product made for convenient heating and serving. The product is identified among the items manufactured by Fujimitsu's Chinese joint venture, Rongcheng Taizheng Tengguang Foods, for the Chinese market and selected Asian export destinations.

• Moomin marketing for Cheese Colone

  Japan

  Fujimitsu used Moomin characters in marketing associated with Cheese Colone, linking the filled kamaboko snack to a recognizable character brand.

  Source

• 2010

  Establish a Chinese surimi joint ventureM&A

  Background

  Fujimitsu sought production capacity and market access in China and other Asian markets through cooperation with a member of the Taixiang Group.

  Action taken

  On April 29, 2010, Fujimitsu agreed with Rongcheng Taixiang Aquatic Food to establish Rongcheng Taizheng Tengguang Foods in Rongcheng, Shandong Province.

  Aftermath

  The joint venture manufactured oden, imitation crab, chikuwa, fried foods, and other surimi products for China and exports to Japan, South Korea, and other parts of Asia.

  Source

• 2008

  Implement ISO 22000 food-safety managementStrategy

  Background

  Fujimitsu pursued formalized food-safety management as part of its manufacturing and quality systems.

  Action taken

  The company obtained ISO 22000 certification on September 16, 2008.

  Aftermath

  The certification complemented similar certifications obtained by affiliated companies, including Hakata Uoka and Sankyu Suisan.

  Source

• 2007

  Adopt the Fujimitsu Corporation nameStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to refresh its corporate identity while operating across a broader range of processed seafood and affiliated businesses.

  Action taken

  On March 1, 2007, Fujimitsu Kamaboko Industry Co. changed its name to Fujimitsu Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating from Nagato and expanded its described network of surimi, retail-linked, agricultural, broadcasting, and gift businesses.

  Source

1. 1Fujimitsu Corporationen.wikipedia.org