Japan's Hokkaido is set to host the "Hokkaido Japan Seafood Fair" from Jan. 22 to 28 at two Japanese supermarkets in the US state of California, showcasing premium local seafood products to captivate the US market. 

The annual event, which began in 2021, will take place in Torrance, a city in the southern part of Los Angeles County. 

This year's fair will feature around 20 products from six Hokkaido-based companies, a Hokkaido official told Undercurrent News. 

Highlights include frozen scallop meat, which has gained popularity in the US, along with salt-cured autumn chum salmon and premium salmon roe. 

The fair will also offer wild yellowtail and black flounder prepared in koji seasoning, which is ideal for dishes such as meuniere or for use in ready-to-eat meals and bento boxes.

The event is part of Hokkaido's broader "Seafood Export Expansion Promotion Project," designed to diversify export destinations and product offerings while shifting from raw material exports to high-value-added products.

The 2023 fair, held in March, saw impressive results, achieving sales of 575 items totaling $11,378 over the week-long event, according to Hokkaido's official report.

Beyond the US, Hokkaido expanded seafood sales in Taiwan and Hong Kong during the 2024 fiscal year, utilizing retail outlets and online platforms to reach consumers. 

Japan's northernmost island plans to host a live surf clam and oyster exhibition and business meeting in Singapore in early March. Social media will be key in promoting this initiative, further solidifying Hokkaido's presence in the global seafood market.