Land-based farming gains ground in Japan as Gin no Sara launches Mirai Salmon.
Gin no Sara, Japan’s largest sushi delivery chain, has introduced land-based farmed steelhead, marketed as ‘Mirai Salmon’ to its menu for the first time through a limited-time collaboration with seafood company Nichimo Corporation.
The product, is farmed at a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility operated by Nichimo in Buzen, Fukuoka Prefecture. The facility, located on the site of Kyushu Electric Power’s Buzen Power Station, uses a closed-cycle system that circulates and purifies water, minimizing environmental discharge and disease risk.
In Japan, the term saamon (サーモン) is widely used to describe fatty, orange-fleshed fish served as sushi or sashimi, regardless of whether the species is technically Atlantic salmon or a type of trout. While native terms like sake (鮭) and masu (鱒) are used for wild Pacific species, the katakana loanword saamon typically refers to farmed or imported products. As a result, land-based farmed trout and salmon are often marketed interchangeably under the saamon label to meet consumer expectations for mild flavor and rich texture.
From March 17, 2025, Gin no Sara began offering a limited-edition tasting set featuring four preparations of Mirai Salmon — plain, ginger and green onion, marinated, and seared. The set was available exclusively through Gin no Sara’s official website and priced at JPY 1,717 ($11.08/€9.32) including tax. Sales were limited to available quantities.
The launch represents a significant move for land-based aquaculture into Japan’s mainstream consumer market. Gin no Sara operates over 500 outlets nationwide and is widely considered the leading brand in Japan’s home-delivery sushi sector.