Maker’s Story: Setouchi Citrus and Seafood Snacks by MARUKA FOODS

Summer is upon us in Japan, and there’s no better way to welcome the heat than with citrusy and addictive seafood snacks by MARUKA FOODS (まるか食品 Maruka Shokuhin). Originating from the Setouchi Area (瀬戸内), famed for its abundant citrus fruits and fresh seafood, their crispy treats combine the zesty tang of Setouchi citrus with the savory taste of premium seafood from the same area. Perfect for sunny days, enjoy a burst of flavour in every bite. 

JAPAN RAIL CLUB spoke to Mr. Watanabe (渡邊) to learn more about MARUKA FOODS’ history and their irresistible snacks which have been making (heat)waves all across the country and in several others around the world.

Introduction to MARUKA FOODS

Watanabe-san, it is a pleasure to speak with you! Firstly, please tell us more about MARUKA FOODS and its story of origin.

MARUKA FOODS’ factory in Onomichi | ©photoAC

Founded in 1961, our company produces and sells snacks, primarily ika-ten (イカ天 squid tempura) and nori-ten (海苔天 seaweed tempura), across Japan. At MARUKA FOODS, we automated the production of ika-ten, which was a local delicacy of the coastal Setouchi Area, also known as the Seto Inland Sea. 

Manufacturing process of MARUKA FOODS’ products | ©MARUKA FOODS

With mass production made possible, we started expanding the sales of our ika-ten nationwide, popularising one of our best-selling products “Ika-ten Setouchi Lemon Flavour” (イカ天瀬戸内れもん味). 

Ikaten Setouchi Lemon Flavour

We can vouch for that! When the Ikaten Setouchi Lemon Flavour snack was featured in our November 2023 Omiyage Snack Box, it was one of our customers’ favourites! Is this one of your company’s representative products? 

MARUKA FOODS’ famous Ika-ten Setouchi Lemon Flavour. | ©MARUKA FOODS 

Without a doubt, the Ika-ten Setouchi Lemon Flavour is our flagship product. In fact, the snack was developed with the idea of making ika-ten appealing to women as a snack. Bite-sized for easy eating, it features a refreshing flavour with Setouchi lemons. Not to mention, it comes in an attractive packaging, making a hit amongst women as our target audience. 

Featured Products: Noriten Seaweed Tempura Snacks

This July 2024, JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s “Sizzling Summer” Omiyage Snack Box will feature two yummy snacks by MARUKA FOODS. Please introduce them to us!

Noriten Setouchi Sudachi Flavour | ©MARUKA FOODS

Noriten Setouchi Sudachi Flavour (のり天瀬戸内すだち味): Made with sudachi, a type of citrus fruit native to Japan, from the Setouchi region. These noriten feature a distinctive, refreshing tanginess from the sudachi citrus.

Kishu Plum and Red Shiso Crispy Noriten | ©MARUKA FOODS

Kishu Plum and Red Shiso Crispy Noriten (紀州産梅と赤しそ香るサクサクのり天): The 2nd best-seller in our “SOZAINOAJIGA KOI” (Ingredients with Strong Flavours) series! Featuring plums from Kishu, Wakayama Prefecture and red shiso (perilla) from Mishima Foods in Hiroshima Prefecture. It boasts a rich flavour profile with the tartness of the plums and the fragrant aroma of shiso.

We pride ourselves in crafting our products using regional-limited ingredients such as the aforementioned Setouchi sudachi citrus and Kishu plums. Besides that, we also use thick seaweed from the Setouchi Inland Sea and neighbouring Ariake Sea from Kyushu, which is ideal for making nori-ten. 

From Setouchi, To The World

The snacks sound so delicious, and we can’t wait for our customers to try them and choose their favourite! Are there any features or initiatives of your company that you would like to share with visitors to Japan?

Kishu plums and Setouchi sudachi citruses. | ©photoAC

We use citrus and other ingredients grown in the warm climate of Setouchi, leveraging regional resources in our product development. Through our products, we aim to convey the serene atmosphere of Setouchi’s calm sea and its surrounding islands.

©MARUKA FOODS

We also distribute our products overseas, including Singapore, Taiwan, China, the Netherlands, and the USA (Hawaii). Additionally, our flagship product, Ika-ten Setouchi Lemon Flavour, has also obtained Halal certification. We hope this allows more people to enjoy it.

Attractions of Setouchi

You mentioned a lot about Setouchi! Are there any attractions in Setouchi that you would recommend to foreign visitors to Japan?

Shimanami Kaido and the islands of Setouchi. | ©photoAC

Considered a mecca for cyclists around the world, Setouchi is probably most famous for the Shimanami Kaido, which is a 70km-long bridge that spans across six smaller islands, connecting Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, in Shikoku Island.

The many islands of Setouchi are also famous. In fact, the Setouchi islands was listed as one of the destinations in “52 Places to Go in 2019” by the New York Times!

Hiroshima also has many places worth visiting, including the World Heritage Site of Miyajima and the Peace Memorial Park.

Message from MARUKA FOODS

Thank you for sharing! Watanabe san, do you have any parting message for our readers at JAPAN RAIL CLUB?

Senkoji Temple, Onomichi｜©photoAC

Fellow readers, the region of Setouchi and Hiroshima are very beautiful places.

Onomichi, where our company is located, is a place where the old town streets and new Japanese culture merge. Onomichi is a town that embraces both the old and the new, and is always nostalgic, yet somehow new. We highly recommend you to visit us in Onomichi!