Mitsui DM Sugar (TYO:2109) plans to launch a plant-based tuna substitute, Osakana Kakumei, in Japan in 2026 as a response to declining seafood supplies, Nikkei reported Tuesday.

Priced just over 2,000 yen per kilogram, it undercuts Tokyo's Toyosu fish market tuna, which stood at 3,262 yen per kilogram in August, according to the report.

The product, made from konjac yam, seaweed, and bamboo fibers, mimics the taste, texture, and appearance of maguro tuna and contains 6 grams of fiber per 100 grams. It can be eaten as sashimi or in other dishes, with annual production expected to reach 10 tons by 2028, the report said.

Mitsui DM Sugar aims to target consumers unable to eat raw fish, including nursing homes, hospitals, and pregnant women, while exploring plant-based alternatives for other seafood such as salmon and squid, according to the report.

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