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Meet the UK's Leading Seafood Suppliers in Tokyo This August

DEFRA - GREAT Food & Drink

The UK is inviting seafood buyers, importers and foodservice professionals to visit the UK Pavilion at the Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo 2026 (19-21 August) to experience the very best of British seafood.

Showcasing premium fish and shellfish from across the United Kingdom, the pavilion will offer visitors the opportunity to meet leading exporters, discover new products and explore business opportunities with some of the UK's most trusted seafood suppliers.

Alongside meeting leading seafood exporters from across the UK, visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations from renowned Japanese chef Nobuyuki Kurihara, showcasing the versatility and quality of UK seafood through dishes created specifically to inspire Japanese buyers, importers and foodservice professionals.

UK seafood businesses are set to make a significant splash in the Japanese marketplace, thanks to the concerted efforts and support of Seafish, Seafood Scotland and the UK Government.

Flying the flag for the UK at the Expo, businesses exhibiting on within the UK pavilion will highlight the exceptional quality, trusted provenance, sustainability credentials and diverse range of fish and shellfish from across the United Kingdom.

Japan remains a strategically important market for UK seafood exports. In 2025, the UK exported 4,344 tonnes of seafood to Japan, worth £16.02 million, and opportunities continue to grow across a range of premium products, with export growth recorded in Atlantic salmon, caviar and roes, whelk, crab and sardines.

The UK Pavilion is set to be one of the hottest tickets at this year's Expo, bringing together exceptional seafood, industry expertise and live culinary theatre. Buyers will have the chance to meet export-ready suppliers from across the UK, explore new business opportunities and discover why seafood from the UK continues to win fans in markets around the world.

From premium Scottish Salmon PGI, crab and shellfish to innovative seafood products and sustainable sourcing stories, the UK Pavilion will offer an unforgettable taste of modern UK seafood.

Katrine Sasaki, Agriculture Attaché for Japan, at the British Embassy in Tokyo, said: “Japan is one of the world's most respected seafood markets, and we are delighted to be showcasing the very best of UK seafood at this year's Expo. The UK is renowned globally for producing premium fish and shellfish with exceptional quality, traceability and sustainability credentials.

“The UK Pavilion provides an invaluable opportunity for businesses to strengthen existing partnerships, forge new commercial relationships and demonstrate the breadth and diversity of seafood available from across the United Kingdom. We look forward to welcoming buyers and industry leaders to discover why UK seafood continues to earn a reputation for excellence around the world.”

Colin Faulkner, Chief Executive of Seafish, said: “Japanese consumers and buyers place great value on quality, provenance and consistency, qualities that are at the heart of the UK seafood industry. From premium shellfish to responsibly sourced wild-caught finfish species, UK businesses offer products that are trusted by customers worldwide

"The Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo is an important opportunity to showcase the innovation, expertise and export capability of UK seafood businesses. We're proud to support companies from across the UK as they connect with international buyers and demonstrate the outstanding products our coastal communities deliver.”

Paul Knight, Managing Director of Orkney Crab and PDK Shellfish, said: "We're excited to be returning to Japan this year to showcase the premium range of live and frozen shellfish from both Orkney Crab and PDK Shellfish.

“It's especially rewarding to do so following the Orkney creel fishery for brown crab, European lobster and velvet crab becoming the first in the world to achieve Community Catch certification, recognising our commitment to quality, sustainability and the communities behind our seafood."

The UK's presence at the Expo forms part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign, which promotes the very best of UK food and drink internationally and showcases the quality, innovation and expertise that make British products globally competitive. This builds on the success of recent international trade events, including Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, where the UK seafood industry demonstrated its strength and ambition on the world stage.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the UK Pavilion in Hall 3 – Stand Q-64 throughout the exhibition to meet exhibitors, discover new products and explore opportunities to work with some of the UK's leading seafood suppliers.

For more information on GREAT Food & Drink click here www.greatbritishfood.jp

 

ENDS

Notes to editors

2026 Japan International Seafood & Technology Expo (JISTE), Tokyo Big Sight

19-21 August 2026

The UK pavilion will be located in Hall 3 – Stand Q-64. 

https://seafoodshow-japan.com/tokyo/

• UK exports to Japan in 2025 were 4,344 tonnes, worth £16.02 million.
• Export growth was recorded in salmon, caviar and roes, whelk, crab and sardines.
• UK mackerel exports to Asia continue to play an important role in regional supply chains, including exports processed and re-exported into Japan.
• The UK seafood industry is internationally recognised for its quality, provenance, food safety standards and sustainable production practices. These attributes were highlighted by Seafish and UK Government representatives at Seafood Expo Global 2026.

 

Images: A selection of UK fish and shellfish

Seafish www.seafish.org/

Seafood Scotland Welcome to Seafood Scotland

UK Government GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland Campaign - GREAT Campaign

For more information about UK products in Japan go to www.greatbritishfood.jp

GREAT campaign

The GREAT Food and Drink campaign brings the best of the UK’s exceptional food and drink produce to consumers across the globe. From Scottish salmon and English sparkling wine, Welsh Lamb to Northern Irish gin, our food is recognised at home and abroad for its great taste and high quality.

 

In the UK, we often do things a little differently. British producers aren’t afraid to push boundaries and adapt to diverse audiences and changing tastes. But it’s not all about the next best thing, we do the classics well too. This uniquely British blend of the old and the new is driving international demand, with UK food and drink exported to 220 countries and territories across the globe. 

 

www.greatbritishfood.jp

Contact details:

For further information please contact [email protected]