Market Research Reports - Ken Research 2017-2022 Japan Probiotics Market Report (Status a

Saturation in Japan’s Prebiotic Market Will Witness a Leisure Growth
Japanese are well aware of the value of incorporating prebiotic and prebiotic ingredients in
their daily diet. The prebiotics were first commercialized in Japan 20 years ago with the sales
of bifidus factor to enhance the growth of friendly bifido-bacteria in the intestinal tract of
humans. Gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach cancer are in the list of leading causes of
death in Japan for many years. The decreased consumption of pickled foods has resulted in
decline of the death rates due to stomach cancer, gastric and duodenal ulcers in both men
and women. To maintain a healthy gastrointestinal system is a major problem for the
Japanese because the doctors tend to over-prescribe antibiotics for various health
problems. Various health awareness camps were also organised for Japanese consumers to
gain knowledge on need to replenish the bacterial flora in their gut on a regular basis and
believe that probiotic bacteria is the best solution anytime.
Many prebiotic products have emerged in the recent years. There were seventy FOSHU
(Foods for Specified Health Uses) gut regulation products containing dietary fiber as the
main ingredient, and another sixty-one products containing an oligosaccharide to support a
gut health. Prebiotic fiber main ingredients are popular indigestible dextrin, psyllium seed
husk, polydextrose, partially hydrolyzed guar gum, wheat bran, rafinose, beer yeast fiber,
low molecular weight sodium alginate and agar derived fiber. The oligosaccharides such as
fructo-oligosaccharide, galacto- oligosaccharide, isomalto-oligosaccharides, lactosucrose
and lactulose, coffee bean manno-oligosaccharide in instant coffee claim suitable for
improved bowel movement in humans. All these products are labelled with health claims
equivalent to suitable for improving the regulation and control of the intestines health.
According to the report, “2017-2022 Japan Probiotics Market Report (Status and
Outlook)”, Japanese have been well aware about a certain functional ingredients that could
support the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract. Meiji Seika’s
fructooligosaccharide and Calpis’ soybean oligosaccharide have long been the leading
products. The popular product Oligo CC drink consists of soybean oligosaccharide as the
main ingredient. This product claims itself suitable for those who are concerned about their
gastrointestinal condition, as it increases intestinal bifidobacteria maintaining a healthy gut.
Out of the entire dairy products yogurt is best product in the prebiotic foods. The Japanese
yogurt products market has been growing steadily for more than two decades. The leading
players in the yogurt products market are Meiji Dairies, Morinaga Milk Industries and Yakult
Honsha. Lactic Acid Bacteria Cultured Beverages by Yakult Honsha have a huge demand in
Japan due to the effective products. The growth of the FOSHU lactic acid bacteria products
sales has slowed down in the recent years due to saturation. Soy yogurt is new product in
the prebiotic category. With new packaging concepts, the younger Japanese generation
have showing interest in the prebiotic products. Dairy products, non-dairy products, cereals,