Life is All About Encounters
Keizo Shimada
President, SHIMASUI Co., Ltd.
After gaining experience in the industry
With over 30 years of experience in the yellowtail industry, I founded SHIMASUI Co.,
Ltd. in 2020 to put that knowledge into practice.
Shimada:
Iʼve gained hands-on experience in all aspects of the yellowtail business̶from
processing and sales to quality control.
Over the years, Iʼve also been involved in product development for sales, processing
operations, and expanding into overseas markets.
Through these experiences, Iʼve developed a deep understanding of the growing global
demand for yellowtail and the importance of meeting international quality standards.
For me, it had to be yellowtail.
The Japanese government has set a goal of reaching \5 trillion in exports of agricultural,
forestry, and fishery products by 2030 under its Strategy for Expanding Exports of
Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Products and Food.
Farm-raised yellowtail from Kagoshima has been designated as a key product and
production area under this initiative.
As domestic demand for seafood continues to decline, I firmly believe that the future of
the industry lies in expanding exports.
Motivated by this belief, I made the decision to build a HACCP-compliant processing
facility dedicated to exporting farm-raised yellowtail.
Shimada:
For me, it really had to be yellowtail.
I felt that the government’s push to promote exports aligned perfectly with my own
belief in the growing demand overseas.
With strong national support behind this direction, I thought, “If I donʼt take this
opportunity now, Iʼll regret it.”
Grateful for the People I’ve Met
Starting a company at my age and beginning with the search for land was no easy task.
But what truly supported me were the connections I had built over the years.
Iʼve always wanted to share Japanʼs fresh seafood with people around the world.
It was thanks to the support and shared passion of those who believed in that vision that
I was able to take the first step toward this major challenge.
Shimada:
I’m truly excited about the challenge of going from local to global!
By focusing on quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, I hope to continue building
and enhancing the value of our company.