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Commitment to Horseradish

Horseradish: The essential supporting actor for high-quality processed wasabi.
To produce excellent processed wasabi products,
KINJIRUSHI has developed its own premium strain, Hakuho™.

Horseradish:
The Essential Supporting Actor in High-Quality Processed Wasabi

Horseradish, a plant native to Europe, is also known as raifort.
In Hokkaido, the primary production area, it is sometimes called yama-wasabi.
It is used as an ingredient in processed wasabi products, such as powdered wasabi or grated wasabi.

KINJIRUSHI's Exclusive Premium Strain, Hakuho™

To ensure high-quality processed wasabi products, we have developed the unique premium horseradish strain Hakuho™, which enhances the fresh aroma and spiciness of wasabi when blended together. Hakuho™ is distinguished by its bright color, lack of grassy scent, and crisp spiciness, making it an indispensable ingredient in premium processed wasabi products.

Hakuho™, Horseradish
Cultivated Over Three Years

Typically, horseradish is harvested about six months after planting by reusing harvested roots as seed roots the following year. However, KINJIRUSHI's Hakuho™ takes three careful years to cultivate: the first year for seedling preparation, the second year for seed root growth, and the third year for planting and harvesting the seed roots. This ensures consistent quality and delicious, high-quality ingredients.

Meristem Culture Technology
Supporting High-Quality Seedling Production

Left: Collecting the meristem Top Right: Horseradish meristem Bottom Right: Separating plants grown from the meristem

Utilizing the meristem—the plant's growth point located at the tip of roots and stems—produces seedlings resistant to disease. However, since it is tiny and located deep within the bud, each one is carefully removed by hand and cultivated in test tubes. KINJIRUSHI uses this technology to provide superior-quality seedlings of both wasabi and horseradish to contract farmers.

Plants propagated from the meristem

Rigorous Quality Inspections

To consistently maintain high-quality horseradish, KINJIRUSHI conducts strict quality inspections ensuring seedlings are virus-free and the spiciness meets specified standards.

Research and Development
for Even Tastier Wasabi

Left: Tamaki, Senior Manager at our Agricultural Business Research Institute, who succeeded in developing horseradish seeds Right: Valuable horseradish seeds harvested for variety improvement

Horseradish rarely produces seeds, historically limiting breeding research. Nevertheless, through continued research aimed at securing high-quality ingredients, we successfully produced horseradish seeds. This breakthrough dramatically expands the possibilities for breeding new varieties. The technology to "create something new" is precisely what defines KINJIRUSHI's strength.

Horseradish flowers

Growing Horseradish in
Partnership with Farmers

Our Commitment to Delicious Horseradish

Integrated Production from Cultivation to Harvest
by KINJIRUSHI's agricultural corporation,
KINJIRUSHI Agriculture Co., Ltd.

At our agricultural subsidiary, KINJIRUSHI Agriculture Co., Ltd., we supply premium seedlings of wasabi and horseradish, support farmers with cultivation techniques, develop specialized farming equipment, and closely partner with contract farmers, working hand-in-hand to manage every stage from ingredient cultivation onwards.

Creating Healthy Soil

At KINJIRUSHI, we believe that delicious products can only be made with delicious ingredients. Based on this philosophy, we have conducted extensive joint research with agricultural institutions and universities to enhance the flavor of cultivated horseradish and have accumulated proprietary knowledge in healthy soil creation. One example of our approach is the analysis of soil nutrients in 14 different categories before planting seedlings. Based on these results, we prepare a tailored prescription to replenish any lacking nutrients, ensuring the robust growth of horseradish.

Communication
with Our Farmers

Communication with Our Farmers

KINJIRUSHI places great importance on communication with our farmers. We regularly visit their fields to inspect the soil and water conditions.
If any aspects are found to be below standard, we immediately discuss the causes and solutions with the farmers to address them together.

Horseradish harvesting equipment developed by KINJIRUSHI