Company Profile

CEO’s Message

代表挨拶

With a spirit of “Quality First,” sincerely and flexibly

Sakamoto was founded in 1978, the year the Osaka Central Wholesale Market opened, as a wholesaler of salted and dried seafood. We are deeply grateful for the continued support and guidance we have received from so many over the years.

We believe that the fisheries industry is entering a period of great transformation, driven by challenges such as resource depletion and demographic shifts.

In facing this new era, we reaffirm the unchanging spirit that has guided Sakamoto since its founding:
“To grasp the essence of things and deliver truly good and valuable products.”
and “To engage with our customers sincerely, with professionalism and pride.”
We express this spirit through the phrase “Quality First” and will continue to put it into practice throughout our entire company.

Our products are created by people, starting with the fishermen and local producers, continuing through market professionals, and including our own employees.
That is why we believe the word “Quality” should not only refer to the product itself. It also represents the trust and satisfaction of everyone involved in our work, and the value that Sakamoto provides to our customers.

To that end, we will continue to protect and support authentic production sites and the dedicated producers behind them. At the same time, we will maintain a bold and forward-looking approach to management without fear of change. Through this, we aim to embody the true meaning of “Quality First” and deliver delicious happiness to our customers’ tables.

President & CEO

坂本務

Profile

Born in 1982.
Graduated from the Department of Agricultural Engineering for Food Production and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University. Completed a Master's program at the Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University.
Joined Nippon Life Insurance Company in 2007, where he worked in corporate planning.
Joined Sakamoto Co., Ltd. in 2011. After serving as Executive Director, he was appointed President and CEO in 2017.

The CEO’s Personal Philosophy

“Only source ingredients I’ve personally inspected.”

The bulk of our procurement takes place at wholesale market auctions, which start as early as 5 a.m. Even though the early mornings can be tough, I insist on personally inspecting the products every day and only sourcing those that meet my quality standards.
This daily dedication is what enables Sakamoto to detect even the subtlest differences in quality — and that’s a core source of our pride.

“Close communication with the production floor.”

Working with our on-site teams is a daily, serious endeavor.
Our products are created by people — and that’s precisely why employee motivation, health, and overall working conditions are critical indicators that directly affect product quality. Through daily communication with our team members — during new product development, quality inspections, and other key processes — I strive to maintain an accurate understanding of the company’s status. This helps us to quickly detect issues and work toward effective solutions.

“Operate with positivity and joy.”

Meeting customer expectations and achieving company goals — if we’re going to do it, we should do it with joy and positivity. Work demands energy and time. Without a positive mindset, it’s hard to truly enjoy what we do. That’s why I make a conscious effort to set the tone with my own actions — to create a culture that’s open, free, and transparent, where communication flows naturally.

“A future we can all get excited about!”

The fisheries industry tends to face a lot of negative news.
But at Sakamoto, we’re turning things around. Armed with our unique know-how and persistent efforts, we aim to create new value and products that anticipate the changing needs of the times. Most importantly, we’re building a future that we ourselves can get excited about — setting bold goals and growing as a team with enthusiasm and confidence.

Photo by Keiichiro Waguri

  • Company Profile
  • Company Milestones
  • Corporate Philosophy
  • Locations

Company Profile

COMPANY INFO

Company Name Sakamoto Co., Ltd.
Representative President & CEO Tsutomu Sakamoto
Executives President & CEO Tsutomu Sakamoto
Executive Vice President Koichiro Fukui
Senior Managing Director Osamu Sakamoto
Business Type Wholesale of Salted and Dried Seafood / Food Manufacturing and Processing
Main Products Chirimen-jako (dried baby sardines), dried shrimp, a variety of other salted and dried seafood, simmered products such as kugini and tsukudani, and processed seafood including salmon and seasoned cod roe (mentaiko).
Capital ¥20,000,000
Employees 90
Main Clients Supermarkets, consumer co-ops, mass retailers, restaurant chains, traditional Japanese restaurants (ryotei), inns (ryokan), trading companies, and food manufacturers throughout Japan.

Company Milestones

HISTORY

May 1978 Heihachi Sakamoto Sales Office Co., Ltd. established with the opening of Osaka Prefectural Central Wholesale Market (Northern Market)
Apr 1984 Sakamoto Co., Ltd. established
Same year Original First Processing Plant established
Jun 2011 Yoshio Sakamoto appointed as President & CEO
Jan 2012 Issued first unsecured corporate bond (¥50 million via Resona Bank)
Apr 2012 New First Processing Plant established
Dec 2012 First Processing Plant obtained ISO22000 certification
May 2013 Affiliate company Senshuan Co., Ltd. established
Jun 2013 Yoshio Sakamoto appointed Director of Osaka Marine Products Wholesalers’ Cooperative
Apr 2017 Tsutomu Sakamoto appointed President & CEO / Yoshio Sakamoto becomes Chairman
Sep 2017 Issued second unsecured corporate bond (¥50 million via Resona Bank)
Nov 2018 Issued third unsecured SDGs private placement bond (¥50 million via Resona Bank)
May 2019 Yoshio Sakamoto appointed Vice Chairman of Osaka Marine Products Wholesalers’ Cooperative
Feb 2020 Northern Market Processing Plant newly established
Mar 2020 First Processing Plant renovated and significantly expanded
Jun 2020 Affiliate company Nextaff Co., Ltd. established
Nov 2020 First Processing Plant obtained FSSC22000 certification
Mar 2021 Certified as a 2021 Health and Productivity Management Organization (SME category)
Oct 2022 First Processing Plant obtained MEL CoC certification
2022 Second Processing Plant newly established

※ This private placement bond incorporates a social contribution element, in which a portion of the funds raised is donated to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the international targets adopted at the 2015 United Nations General Assembly as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Corporate Philosophy

ACTIVITIES

At Sakamoto Co., Ltd., we place the realization of “Quality First” at the heart of all our corporate activities, and we are committed to the following food safety principles as our core philosophy:

  • By providing products that are safe, secure, delicious, and health-conscious, we aim to preserve traditional Japanese food culture and enrich our customers’ diets.
  • We comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and requirements related to our business activities, and pursue sound corporate management grounded in social ethics.
  • We ensure that all employees fully understand our food safety policies, establish concrete safety objectives, and regularly evaluate and revise them through internal audits.
  • We always listen to our customers’ voices and strive to deliver clear, timely, and valuable information.

Locations

ACCESS MAP

Head Office / First Processing Plant

Location 5-40 Wakazono-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0894
Head Office Contact TEL:072-657-7694 / FAX:072-657-7695
First Processing Plant Contact TEL:072-636-6351 / FAX:072-637-3453

Second Processing Plant

Location 2-2-20 Miyajima, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0853
Contact TEL:072-648-5653 / FAX:072-648-5654

Market Office

Location 1-1-1 Miyajima, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0853
Located inside Osaka Prefectural Central Wholesale Market (Northern Market)
TEL 072-636-3722
FAX 072-636-3724
MAIL sakamoto@sakamoto-chirimen.co.jp

Tokyo Branch

Location 5-15 Nihonbashi Hakozaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0015
5F PORT ONE Kayabacho
TEL 03-6661-7750
FAX 03-6661-7751

Osaka Sales Office

Location 2F, 1-12-5 Masago, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka 567-0851
TEL 072-665-7012
FAX 072-665-7013