Japanese products are becoming increasingly common across the UK. Trade links and changing consumer demands are helping to drive imports, and are no longer confined to specialist stores.
Retailers are Stocking More Japanese Products
From authentic food to premium skincare, ceramics, kitchen equipment and even cars, there’s a growing demand for Japanese goods. As a result, economic ties between the UK and Japan are strengthening more by the year.
Total trade income between the two countries rose to £34.6 billion by the end of 2025. When breaking down the latest data, it’s clear that food remains one of the biggest drivers of Japanese imports.
Kombu and sushi rice were once only available at Asian supermarkets, but now British shoppers can find dashi, ramen, miso paste and matcha at mainstream retailers.
Specialist stores have expanded to try to meet the rise in demand. Some of the top retailers in the UK include WASO, Atariya, Longdan, and Shoryu Konbini. They have expanded their range to include thousands of products, including premium seasonings and frozen ready meals.
Japanese cuisine has become so popular in the UK that people are now seeking authentic ingredients so that restaurant dishes can be created at home.
Japanese homeware is also on the rise. Tea sets have seen a notable increase in popularity, particularly for authentic teaware. Enthusiasts are investing in chawans, kyusu teapots, and tetsubins.
Retail houses like Japan House London have helped to introduce more shoppers to Japanese products, and demand shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Interest in Japanese Culture is Soaring
Television and the media have played a big role in Japan’s cultural resurgence in the UK. Historical drama Shogun won 18 Emmy awards and detailed the samurai society and the complex moments throughout the country’s history.
Books about Japan are also becoming more popular in the UK. Yoko Ogawa, Mieko Kawakami, and Sayaka Murata are all seeing their book sales increase. Japanese authors are quickly becoming the UK’s biggest import in translation.
Podcasts, like the History of Japan and Beyond Japan, are very popular too. Topics range from archaeology to war and calligraphy. Museums, like the British Museum, have a Samurai collection and display some of the most interesting artefacts found in Japan.
Japanese-style imagery is even a theme in iGaming. Book of Sakura, which can be played at a slot casino UK, features cherry blossoms and traditional graphics to show the popular season in Japan, while paying homage to its cultural and historical roots.
As modern media is putting the spotlight on Japan and the increase in demand for authentic Japanese cuisine, it’s interesting to see how retailers are responding. UK supermarkets are launching fresh meal deals for Japanese cuisine, with Itsu in particular currently available at Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda.
Asda currently has a Panku Streetfood range, where authentic Japanese sushi, rice bowls and katsu chicken are sold fresh, indicating that, if anything, we can expect current stats to rise even more by 2027, as more retailers capitalise on the trend.
