Murakami Farm

Murakami Farm Co., Ltd. (株式会社村上農園) is an agricultural company headquartered in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, specializing in controlled-environment vegetable production using plant factories. It is Japan's largest producer of sprouts and is known for popularizing broccoli sprouts and pea sprouts in the Japanese market. The company was founded by Akihito Murakami in 1966, initially growing red shiso as a sashimi garnish. In 1976, amid concerns that the establishment of exclusive economic zones would lead to a decline in fishing, Murakami shifted to hydroponic radish sprouts (kaiware daikon). By the late 1980s, through rationalization and cost reduction, Murakami Farm had become Japan's top radish sprout producer, holding over 30% of the domestic market share. In 1996 and 1997, Escherichia coli O-157 outbreaks linked to radish sprouts caused a severe crisis for the industry, and many producers went bankrupt. Murakami Farm itself was on the verge of bankruptcy and excess debt. In response, the company began full-scale production of pea sprouts, which were then little known. Through in-store tasting promotions involving all employees, pea sprouts gradually gained popularity, especially against the backdrop of thriftiness triggered by the 2008 financial crisis and vegetable price rises caused by extreme weather. Pea sprouts became a substitute for green leafy vegetables such as spinach. In 2011, the company built Japan's largest plant factory dedicated to pea sprouts in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, introducing automated systems. By 2019, pea sprout shipments had grown to about eight times their 2009 level. Murakami Farm was also the first in Japan to produce broccoli sprouts. In 1999, it obtained an exclusive license from Brassica Protection Products LLC to produce sulforaphane-rich broccoli sprouts in Japan, a substance developed by Professor Paul Talalay of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In 2001, the company began producing broccoli super sprouts with a higher sulforaphane concentration. The company's current business pillars include functional vegetables such as broccoli sprouts, widely popular staple vegetables such as pea sprouts, and new vegetables such as micro herbs for the food service industry. It operates multiple production centers across Japan, including in Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Mie, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka, and has subsidiaries Murakami Seed and Okinawa Murakami Farm. The company obtained ISO 22000 certification at all production facilities in 2009, and in 2018 established the World Control Center, a quality management headquarters, and the Sulforaphane Research Institute at its head office.

Murakami Farm was founded in 1966 by Akihito Murakami, who had graduated from an old-system agricultural school and worked for a prefectural economic federation before starting his own company after World War II. The company initially cultivated red amaranth (benitade) for use as a sashimi garnish. In 1976, with the establishment of exclusive economic zones and the anticipated decline of fisheries, Murakami began to seek alternative crops and started hydroponic cultivation of radish sprouts (kaiware daikon). At the time, kaiware daikon was a high-end ingredient used in restaurants for soups and garnishes, but technological innovations allowed Murakami Farm to supply it at less than half the previous price and promote its wider use. According to the company, the kaiware roll sushi (kaiware maki) was invented by Akihito Murakami. In the late 1980s, as the number of radish sprout producers increased nationwide, price competition intensified. Murakami Farm responded with rationalization, cost reduction, and a high-volume low-margin strategy, becoming the top producer with over 30% domestic market share. In 1996, an outbreak of E. coli O-157 caused mass food poisoning, and radish sprouts were suspected as the source, leading to devastating reputational damage for producers. Another outbreak occurred in 1997, and many producers went bankrupt over the two years. Despite efforts to appeal to the media about the safety of radish sprouts, the damage continued. Murakami Farm itself suffered greatly, nearing bankruptcy and debt excess, and many young employees resigned in pessimism. In this crisis, the company began full-scale production of pea shoots (tōmyō) as an alternative to radish sprouts. At the time, pea shoots were little known, and employees conducted in-store sampling promotions to popularize them. In parallel, Murakami Farm started contract production of herbs, arugula, and garnishes under its own brand, which, together with pea shoot sales, helped the company return to profitability. In 1997, Professor Paul Talalay at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine developed broccoli sprouts rich in sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in trace amounts in broccoli, during cancer prevention research. Murakami Farm obtained an exclusive license for domestic production of these sprouts in Japan. In 1999, leveraging its radish sprout expertise, it began producing broccoli sprouts. In 2001, it started producing broccoli super sprouts with even higher sulforaphane concentrations. Demand expanded after a popular health information TV program featured the product. Pea shoots began to spread widely around the 2008 Lehman Shock, as thriftiness increased and extreme weather drove up vegetable prices, making pea shoots a substitute for green leafy vegetables like spinach. In response, in 2011, the company built Japan's largest dedicated pea shoot plant factory in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, with automated systems. By 2019, pea shoot shipments had grown to about eight times the 2009 level. Thus, the production of functional vegetables like broccoli sprouts and mass-market staple vegetables like pea shoots became the pillars of the business. In recent years, the company has also been producing new vegetables for the food service industry, such as micro herbs. Key milestones include: 1966 founding; 1978 incorporation; 1982 Chiba Production Center and Murakami Seed established; 1985 Yuki Production Center; 1988 Oigawa Production Center; 1989 Yokkaichi Production Center; 1990 Fukuoka Production Center; 1991 Odawara Center; 1994 ISSI (seed production company) established; 1999 exclusive license agreement with Brassica Protection Products LLC for Japan; 2007 Kiyotaka Murakami became president; 2009 ISO 22000 certification at all production facilities; 2011 Yamanashi Hokuto Production Center; 2013 Okinawa Murakami Farm and Ogimi Production Center; 2014 mutual license agreement with KOPPERT CRESS B.V.; 2018 World Control Center and Sulforaphane Research Institute established at headquarters.

• 2018

  World Control Center and Sulforaphane Research Institute established at headquarters.

• 2014

  Mutual license agreement with KOPPERT CRESS B.V.

• 2013

  Okinawa Murakami Farm and Ogimi Production Center opened.

• 2011

  Yamanashi Hokuto Production Center opened, Japan's largest dedicated pea shoot plant factory.

• 2009

  All production facilities obtained ISO 22000 certification.

• 2007

  Kiyotaka Murakami became president.

• 2001

  Began production of broccoli super sprouts with higher sulforaphane concentration.

• 1999

  Exclusive license agreement with Brassica Protection Products LLC for domestic production of broccoli sprouts.

• 1994

  ISSI (seed production company) established.

• 1991

  Odawara Center opened.

• 1990

  Fukuoka Production Center opened.

• 1989

  Yokkaichi Production Center opened.

• 1988

  Oigawa Production Center opened.

• 1985

  Yuki Production Center opened.

• 1982

  Chiba Production Center opened; Murakami Seed established.

• 1978

  Incorporated as a stock company.

• 1976

  Began hydroponic cultivation of radish sprouts (kaiware daikon).

• 1966

  Murakami Farm founded by Akihito Murakami, starting cultivation of red amaranth for sashimi garnish.

Japan's leading sprout manufacturer and pioneer in functional vegetables and plant-factory farming.

• Broccoli sprouts

  Sprouts rich in sulforaphane, produced under exclusive license from Brassica Protection Products LLC since 1999.

• Broccoli super sprouts

  Sprouts with even higher sulforaphane concentration, production started in 2001.

• Pea shoots (tōmyō)

  Mass-market staple vegetable, substitute for green leafy vegetables; production expanded after 2008.

• Radish sprouts (kaiware daikon)

  Traditional product, hydroponically cultivated since 1976; company held over 30% domestic share.

• Micro herbs

  New vegetables for the food service industry.

1. 1Murakami Farm - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2村上農園 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org