Uzbekistan Joins Japan's Top Prune Suppliers
Uzbek embassy officials met Osaka importer Kurosimo Inc. to expand shipments of prunes, raisins, almonds and walnuts to Japan.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Japanese Food
Uzbekistan has become one of Japan's five largest suppliers of prunes and ranks among the top 10 exporters of raisins to the Japanese market. Representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan met with Kengo Sugie, CEO of Kurosimo Inc., in Osaka to expand supplies.
Why it matters
The meeting aims to grow Uzbek product volumes in Japan, where imported food must meet strict pesticide, microbiological and labeling requirements. Expanded trade could broaden the range of Central Asian dried fruits and nuts available to Japanese consumers.
Kurosimo Inc. imports black raisins, almonds and walnuts from Uzbekistan and sells the processed products in Japan under the Gift from Silk Road brand. The volume and value of these imports, and the scale of the planned expansion, were not disclosed in the source.
The players
Kengo Sugie
CEO of Kurosimo Inc., the Osaka company that imports and processes Uzbek dried fruits and nuts for sale in Japan under the Gift from Silk Road brand.
Kurosimo Inc.
Osaka-based importer and processor that sells Uzbek black raisins, almonds and walnuts in Japan through Kintetsu Department Store.
Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan
Diplomatic mission representing Uzbekistan in Japan, which met with Kurosimo Inc. to promote expanded exports of Uzbek products.
The details
Kurosimo Inc. processes the imported products before selling them, with Gift from Silk Road items available at Kintetsu Department Store and drawing consumer interest. Imported food into Japan must comply with the Positive List System for pesticide residues, laboratory checks for mycotoxins and additives, phytosanitary rules for fresh produce, and Food Sanitation Act notification for each commercial import.
Timeline
A report on Uzbekistan's prune and raisin trade with Japan was published on November 6, 2026.
Market Landscape
Japan's dried fruit and nut imports are governed by the Positive List System, which sets residue limits for pesticides in foods entering the country. Uzbekistan's rise among prune and raisin suppliers shows Central Asian exporters competing for shelf space against established Mediterranean and North American suppliers.
Shoppers in Japan may find Uzbek prunes, raisins, almonds and walnuts in more stores as importers expand supply. Anyone importing these products into Japan must check labels for required details such as allergens, storage conditions, expiry date, country of origin and importer information.
The takeaway
Growing trade in dried fruits and nuts shows how regulatory compliance and importer partnerships shape which foreign foods reach Japanese grocery shelves. Readers interested in Japanese food can watch for new imported products as these supply agreements take effect.
Further reading
Explore more on Japanese Food to see how imported ingredients are used in Japanese cooking.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UzDaily.
