Nata De Coco Juice Brand In Japan: History, Drinks, And Where To Buy

Nata de coco is a chewy, translucent jelly made by fermenting coconut water, and Japan has been one of its largest markets since the 1990s.

In Japan, nata de coco is called natadekoko; it became a national food trend in 1993, and today Ito En, Muji, Sangaria, and Mogu Mogu sell nata de coco drinks for about ¥189 to ¥350. Japanese shoppers buy these drinks in convenience stores, supermarkets, Muji stores, and lifestyle shops.

This guide explains the Japanese name and the 1993 boom, lists the nata de coco drinks sold in Japan, and shows where to buy them and what they cost. The last section covers the import notification, labelling rules, and supply terms that importers need to sell nata de coco drinks in Japan. This guide comes from Nico Brands, the brand portfolio of Nico Trading Company Limited, a Vietnamese manufacturer and exporter of nata de coco drinks.

What Is Nata De Coco Called In Japan, And Why Did It Become Popular?

Japanese shoppers call nata de coco natadekoko, the Japanese reading of its name, and a nationwide boom in 1993 turned it into a household dessert. Canned fruit cocktails in Japan contained nata de coco from the late 1970s, but the product became a trend in 1993, when a famous family restaurant chain added it to its menu and the food company Fujicco ran widely discussed TV commercials (Precious).

Japanese consumers saw nata de coco as a low-calorie health food, and demand rose faster than supply. The Philippines, the main producer, exported 14,303 tonnes of nata de coco in 1993 and 15,832 tonnes in 1994, mostly to Japan (SEARCA). The chewy texture comes from bacterial cellulose, which gives nata de coco a firm bite and a neutral taste.

Which Nata De Coco Drinks Are Sold In Japan?

Four brands sell nata de coco drinks in Japan: Ito En, Muji, Sangaria, and Mogu Mogu. The first three are Japanese companies, and Mogu Mogu is a Thai import.

Brand	Product	Format	Suggested price
Ito En	MOG-GOOD! Nata de Coco & Mango	380 g bottle can	¥189
Ito En	MOG-GOOD! Nata de Coco, refreshing cider flavor	380 g bottle can	¥232
Muji	Konjac Drink Nata de Coco & Lychee	300 g pack	¥189
Sangaria	Tsubutsubu Nata de Coco Red Apple & Green Apple	PET bottle	Sold in cases of 24
Mogu Mogu	Fruit drink with nata de coco, 6 flavors	320 ml (10.8 fl oz) bottle	¥350

Nata de coco drinks sold in Japan with suggested retail prices.

Ito En MOG-GOOD!

Ito En, a Japanese tea and soft drink company, sells nata de coco drinks under its MOG-GOOD! line, which it positions as dessert drinks for snack time. MOG-GOOD! Nata de Coco & Mango combines nata de coco with mango purée and launched on 4 March 2024 at ¥189 for a 380 g bottle can (Nissyoku). A cider-flavored version followed on 2 March 2026 at ¥232 (Nissyoku).

Muji Konjac Drinks

Muji sells nata de coco in its konjac drink range, which combines konjac jelly with nata de coco. The lychee version costs ¥189 for 300 g, and the texture changes with the number of times you shake the pack (@cosme). The range also includes amanatsu orange and grape versions.

Sangaria

Sangaria, a Japanese soft drink maker, sells Tsubutsubu Nata de Coco Red Apple & Green Apple, a red and green apple juice drink with nata de coco pieces in PET bottles. Online retailers sell it in cases of 24 bottles (Joshin).

Mogu Mogu

Mogu Mogu is a Thai fruit drink with nata de coco made by Sappe Public Company Limited. It launched in Japan on 1 May 2023 at HMV and Village Vanguard stores, in six flavors (yogurt, grape, lychee, peach, mango, and melon) at a suggested price of ¥350 for 320 ml (Mynavi News).

Nico Nico

Nico Nico is a Vietnamese juice drink with 30% not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice and 15% nata de coco, available to Japanese importers and distributors rather than sold in Japanese stores. Nico Trading makes Nico Nico in three PET bottle sizes: 320 ml (10.8 fl oz) in 15 flavors, 500 ml (16.9 fl oz) in 9 flavors, and 1,000 ml (33.8 fl oz) in 3 flavors, including lychee, mango, strawberry, melon, and peach. Japan sits within the Nico Nico distribution area, so Japanese importers buy the brand directly from the manufacturer; see the Nico Nico juice drink with nata de coco.

Where Can You Buy Nata De Coco Drinks In Japan, And How Much Do They Cost?

Nata de coco drinks sell in Japan through convenience stores and supermarkets, Muji stores, lifestyle shops, and online retailers, at about ¥189 to ¥350 per drink.

• Convenience stores and supermarkets: Ito En MOG-GOOD! and Sangaria drinks sell through regular soft drink channels.
• Muji stores: Muji sells its konjac drinks in its own stores and online store.
• Lifestyle shops: HMV and Village Vanguard stock Mogu Mogu.
• Online retailers: shops such as Joshin sell Sangaria drinks by the case.

Suggested prices range from ¥189 for Ito En MOG-GOOD! and Muji konjac drinks to ¥350 for Mogu Mogu; store prices vary.

What Do Importers Need To Sell Nata De Coco Drinks In Japan?

Importers must file an import notification with a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) quarantine station, label every pack in Japanese, and choose a supplier with suitable terms.

Import Notification Under The Food Sanitation Act

Article 27 of the Food Sanitation Act requires importers to submit an import notification before they sell imported food in Japan. The importer submits the notification to the MHLW quarantine station at the port of import, on paper or through the electronic system, and a food sanitation inspector reviews the documents and may order a sample inspection (MHLW).

Japanese Labelling Rules

Imported food sold in Japan must carry a Japanese-language label under the Food Labeling Act. The label shows the product name, the country of origin, the importer’s name and address, the ingredients in descending order of weight, the food additives on a separate line, the net content in metric units, the best-before date, and storage instructions (USDA FAS Japan). Importers usually add this information with a Japanese sticker label.

Nico Brands Supply Terms For Japanese Importers

Nico Brands supplies Japanese importers with Nico Nico as an established brand, not a private label, and applies a Japanese sticker label when required.

Factor	Nico Nico
Recipe	30% NFC juice + 15% nata de coco
Pack formats	PET bottles: 320 ml (10.8 fl oz), 500 ml (16.9 fl oz), and 1,000 ml (33.8 fl oz)
Minimum order	1 container; up to 4 flavors per container for 320 ml, minimum 350 cartons per flavor
Incoterms	FOB, CFR, or CIF from Ho Chi Minh City port
Payment	50% deposit and 50% against the draft bill of lading, or a letter of credit at sight
Lead time	30 to 35 working days after deposit and label approval, plus 5 to 7 days for sticker labels

Nico Nico supply terms for Japanese importers.

Japanese dessert and beverage manufacturers can also buy bulk nata de coco from Nico Brands in 3.2 kg (7 lb) boxes and 10 kg (22 lb) bags, alongside popping boba in 9 flavors.

Nata De Coco In Japan: Key Takeaways

Japan has loved natadekoko since the 1993 boom, when restaurant desserts and TV commercials turned it into a household food. Today, Ito En, Muji, Sangaria, and Mogu Mogu sell nata de coco drinks in convenience stores, Muji stores, lifestyle shops, and online, at about ¥189 to ¥350. Japanese companies also use nata de coco in canned fruit cocktails, jelly drinks, and chilled desserts. Importers must file an import notification with an MHLW quarantine station and add a Japanese label, and Nico Nico is available to Japanese importers as a ready-to-sell brand. For more, read what nata de coco is, nata de coco ingredients, a nata de coco pudding recipe, and nata de coco drinks in Thailand and the UK.