According to SeafoodNews, 12 food-related companies in Japan are participating in the promotion of plant-based foods, includingSojitz, Sojitz Foods and Marine Foods.

In addition to the above companies, participating companies are ADEKA, F-link, JALUX, Showa Sangyo, Delica Foods Holdings, Matsuya Foods, Marudai Food, Meat One Corporation, and Royal Holdings.

A new company called Food Tech One was formed to develop and sell meat alternatives, and Sojitz and Sojitz Foods will own more than 67 percent of the new company, with 10 other companies owning less than 33 percent.

Sojitz hopes to develop cell-cultured and farmed fish and expects government deregulation.

The sale of cell-cultured meat substitutes has not yet been approved in Japan, and the first major challenge will be legal regulation.