About Us

The Premier Japanese Food, Alcohol Beverage, and Restaurant Supply Specialist Since 1926

Mutual Trading Co., Inc. was founded in 1926 as a co-op enterprise importing Japanese staple foods for the early Japanese immigrants settling in Southern California. The company has steadily expanded since then, establishing New York Mutual Trading in 1974 to form a key base of operation on both coasts. From a network of ten sales offices, Mutual Group Companies now services clients across America and overseas with a comprehensive selection of 5,000 items: dry/shelf stable, chilled, frozen, super-frozen, restaurant supplies, specialized kitchen tools, and alcoholic products. 

In 1965, Mutual Trading arrived at a milestone on culinary history by introducing Edomae Sushi in America. What was deemed strictly for the Japanese palate proved to be a myth, as Sushi quickly became a driving force joining other favorites as Teppan Yaki, Teriyaki, and Tempura, to expand Japanese restaurant businesses across the nation. Sales of Japanese beer and US brewed Sake followed right along. 

In pursuit of quality foods en par with what’s available to chefs in Japan, Mutual Trading constructed the first super freezer facility on the West Coast in 2003. Through this advanced “Fresher than Fresh” super-frozen seafood line stored at minus 60 degrees F, restauranteurs came to prepare never-seen seasonal delicacies to the delight of their guests. 

From the 1980’s, the company started laying out the groundwork for Premium Sake marketing here in America. Seeking out small batch breweries, then cultivating infrastructures to place the never-seen products into consumers’ hands involved much research and creativity. From then to now, the company’s grown the Japanese fine liquor portfolio to include Jizake, Japanese wine, Ji-Beer craft beer, Shochu, and Whiskey. These products are available through the network of local distributors in most states.

Opened in 2009 in Mid-Manhattan, is MTC Kitchen. This flagship pro-shop of highly specialized tools showcases hand-crafted Japanese knives, imported Japanese tableware, and a variety of kitchenware and equipment. (http://www.mtckitchen.com).

Focusing of ensuring the proper growth of the Washoku industry in territories outside of Japan, Mutual founded two educational and training institutions based on the company’s two major growth platforms, Sake and Sushi. Sake School of America was established in 2010 for liquor trade professionals and Sake enthusiasts to expand expertise and business opportunities, and to promote the joys of the category. To date, the School has certified over 2,800 students. (http://www.sakeschoolofamerica.com)  Miyako Sushi & Washoku School provides Washoku food prep training for professional chefs as well as for avid hobby-cooks to carry on the Washoku culinary culture into the future. (http://miyako school.com) 

Mutual Trading Japanese Food and Restaurant Expo is a forum that brings foodservice professionals and suppliers together under one roof to discuss products and business trends. Held once a year in New York, Los Angeles, and in Honolulu, they are the largest and the longest running trade show of its kind outside of Japan, attracting buyers from around the world for unique opportunities in communicating directly with suppliers and growers, product tastings and demos, learning opportunities, and bargain sales. 

Know in the industry as the “Ambassador of Japanese Food to the World”, Mutual Trading is the Japanese foodservice trade pioneer and global trendsetter. Today, the single-minded corporate mission still runs strong as it has from the founding of the corporation nearly a hundred years ago :

Bringing the Flavors of Japan to the People of the World