How Japan's Priciest Shiitake Mushrooms Fuel The $740 Million Global Shiitake Industry

Japan is one of the leading producers of shiitake mushrooms. These mushrooms are notoriously difficult to cultivate on a commercial scale - especially when using the 1,000-year-old Japanese technique of wood-grown mushrooms. In the US, indoor-grown shiitake sells for upwards of $8 per pound, while forest-grown shiitakes have commanded a much higher price, up to $18 per pound. The most premium shiitake mushrooms are called white flower shiitake, and the forest-grown versions can sell for over $160 per pound. White flower shiitakes have noticeable white cracks on the caps and a strong flavor, but even just a few drops of rain can ruin them completely. Here's why forest-grown shiitake mushrooms are so expensive.
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00:00 - Intro
01:15 - Inoculation
02:58 - Mushroom Hierarchy
04:28 - Challenges
05:28 - Artificial Log Yard
07:02 - Sorting And Drying
09:36 - Shiitake Market
10:31 - Third Kingdom
12:28 - Credits
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#mushroom #soexpensive #businessinsider
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How Japan's Priciest Shiitake Mushrooms Fuel The $740 Million Global Shiitake Industry

[@K78644]

I eat them on a weekly basis but never knew they were produced like that!

[@urraca44]

most of the shiitake dont grow like that, they grow indoor and not in wood logs

[@KL-un8sf]

Man I love mushrooms so much I’m hungry af now

[@wasabigrowersuk]

A great insight into what makes these shiitake so amazing. Wonderful to see Kaz at Sugimoto sharing his expertise and many years of experience to explain why these shiitake really are the best money can buy!

[@iconofsin1043]

They're sooo gooood!!

[@phirata_food]

맛있겠다❤❤❤❤

[@Megadebt]

Thank you for finally pronouncing it correctly and stopping idiots from making bad jokes.

[@uberlpn]

come on now it is all in good humor.......

[@MrManiac2591]

She pronounced it wrong every single time 😂😂😂, the farmers pronounced correctly

[@reizayin]

@@MrManiac2591 in English =/= wrong

[@dominiks.4533]

Would have expected a restaurant called "the third kingdom" a bit closer to Germany 😅

[@user-sm2he8gl5b]

Dried mushrooms make a tasty snack! Try it guys

[@niean-u8r]

Do you know how to make it?

[@adamd.6698]

Holy shiitake!! Ok, I’ll let myself out now.

[@RyanL651]

Mushrooms are so crazy -- the science behind it and such. Give me any mushroom and sauté it in some butter and oil and it's one of the best things to eat.

[@reachthesingularity]

What’s even crazier is the price on these bad boys and they don’t even make you see things

[@FrankBoston]

Why you have to make my mouth water!!! 😂

[@MaximaToluene]

Pretty sure alot of them are poisonous 😂

[@RuffleCoptah]

DOLLERS

[@MegaThunderKitten]

Why retirement homes are so expensive.

[@Ice_Karma]

I don't think I heard them say "shiroi hana" anywhere in the video, just "hana", which means simply "flower".

[@wabbithare9653]

probably the english term for it

[@freedo201]

Your videos are super interesting

[@ethanstewart9970]

This is a multi million dollar media conglomerate, not an individual.

[@dalbert86]

These comments are a beacon of hope. Thank you, everyone!

[@TheDeadbirdy]

Seven hundred and forty million dollars, this is insane

[@terenceflanagan1225]

Yeah Ukraine isn't doing well either

[@itstysonpham]

Yes that’s literally how number works

[@invictusaegis2653]

@@terenceflanagan1225 Huh?

[@huntakilla1234]

Thing: 🙄😒 Japanese thing: 🤩🤑😵😎🥳

[@zoolookers]

The priciest shit I have taken took place on febuari the 4th 2016. It was a cold rainy day, the winter darkness had set in. On the night of the third I had enriched my senses with a delicious meal, finally a break to the monotony of the months leading to the spring. The juices flowed past my lips, the breathing was heavy and the spice tingled. Doner kabab, with everything on it. The morning came and a glimmer of light shun through the curtains. Although I woke up feeling well rested and fulfilled the terror soon hit as I stood up for my morning stretch. Dashing to the toilet I was sweating; I could barely get the door closed before the storm of pain hit. My anus, to this day has not recovered.

[@niean-u8r]

😂

[@FrankBoston]

I wonder if they will ever figure out how to insure they will become White Flower. Not that it would be good for their business, but you'd think "we" could figure out the science to produce them..?

[@wabbithare9653]

they probably do know, it's just practically & economically inefficient to set the conditions to grow them. Plus, it's so expensive only because it's hard to come by.

[@Elvendertig1130]

Ensure*

[@christophersimeon3025]

Outstanding information,with world crisis,rising inflation and economic instability due to poor governance, consider digital assets as a means to attain financial freedom.

[@victoriasteven6328]

Building wealth indeed requires good habits, like investing in solid opportunities such as digital currencies. Having a reliable investment manager and broker is crucial for making informed decisions and managing risks effectively.It's wise to seek out certified professionals who can provide efficient management.With diligence, descipline and the right guidance, success in wealth-building becomes more achievable.

[@davidthompson9926]

Thank so much for the advice been seeking means of being successful in the digital market,do you recommend any professional broker I’m ready.

[@victoriasteven6328]

Anna Dorris Arthur is the best I’ve encountered so far, so I recommend her.

[@davidthompson9926]

I'm curious to know more about the expert broker you're considering. Could you share some details about their experience and why you believe they might be a good fit for people’s trading.

[@victoriasteven6328]

good reputation don’t lie makes me 17k weekly I’m so happy and I support the work of God now, the ability to manage risks is what makes me believe.

[@enkancan]

I want to grow them….

[@Nom_Nom_24]

The meatiest mushroom 😋

[@aimademedothis]

Is the large head of an African male's penis, it's so big and juicy.

[@Bash70]

🤨

[@aimademedothis]

The meatiest mushroom is the large glans of a healthy African male. Mmm!

[@kenkrawcheck5846]

Can someone find out where to buy or what to google to buy those japanese factory worker hat masks?

[@bladerz3922]

Love from malaysia

[@tintinbenjy]

👍🏿

[@asadzeethree2726]

👍🌟💯

[@user-221i]

Comments: Wow interesting. thank you. love. Me: Why does that old woman have to work instead of retiring?

[@charlyostrowski7890]

Random answers....1st world questions... or perhaps she still wants to feel useful in this world/country/family... or she's a slave... or she just doesn't know what retirement means... or that country doesn't offer a "retirement"...etc. Great question! ❤💪🏻

[@Afn99707]

When you are Poor, you retiring only when you died.

[@miskee11]

I read up on this matter not too long ago. The retirement age in Japan is typically 60 years old, but when Japanese people were polled, about 1/3 of participants said they'd want to continue working regardless of age for morale and for a sense of purpose in life. About 1/4 also specifically said they want to continue working after 70. They also polled workers attempting to map their motivations for continuing to work. 76% of everyone claimed it was a financial necessity, meaning they rely on their income to maintain their current living standards for themselves and their families. The rest basically said it gives them purpose/socialization/something to do. Finally, and perhaps most importantly of all, many Japanese seniors believe that staying at work keeps them mentally and physically fit. Rather than relaxing during retirement, they prefer to contribute their skills and knowledge to society. It's just a cultural thing. The main source for all of this is "Why Does the Older Population in Japan Work So Much?, Japan Labor Issues Volume 6 Number 39, October, 2022" and there's a lot more info there if you're interested in further reading. They went into further details regarding retirement specifically, but to be honest I'm a bit too lazy to parse through it all right now. >:)

[@SoBasicallyImRetarded]

Retirement is something you decide

[@annunakian8054]

This is happening in the majority of leading economies. Aging populations, higher cost of living, reduced govt benefits, increasing retirement ages =need to keep working.

[@user-lw3jy4mt8j]

It is good to see how they create an environment for the mushrooms to grow naturally

[@hasaniennis442]

It's so refreshing to hear the proper pronunciation of しいたけ😅

[@reizayin]

*シイタケ

[@deamy5186]

My favorite mushroom ever 😢

[@user-sl9zw7el2w]

I don’t care Japanese anything should be most expensive provided it’s handled by 100% Japanese people… they are top class workers and their workmanship is beyond excellent

[@niean-u8r]

So you also live in Japan?

[@baitingmaster5622]

I feel like i watched this a few minths ago... am i fcked??!

[@Valarxx]

I seen it to, u not fucked

[@Valarxx]

I've seen it too. U not fucked :)

[@kpNov23]

Shitake mushrooms are one of the very few types i like to eat

[@beverlylumley4150]

Thank you, very interesting video

[@whushaw]

💜

[@Nifilheimur]

Pan fried in butter at low heat until they start to get crispy, utterly delicious!

[@anthonybennett3935]

This is farmed not forest grown😂

[@niean-u8r]

These are all artificially planted. It is basically impossible to plant them in the forest

[@RedLemon69]

​@@niean-u8rthey grew in nature, and can be farmed naturally. Just that quality and output can't be controlled well compares to artificial farming.

[@niean-u8r]

@@RedLemon69 Yeah, that's what I mean, I mean people can grow it themselves, but people won't go into the forest to grow it, maybe at a base

[@everettcitty]

sounds like a monopoly to me

[@kaptainkaos1202]

Yay! I had to wait for a few minutes but I got it! I’m the 680th like. Weeeeee!

[@scottm3257]

At $400/kg they're around $21/$22 per pound fresh weight before drying

[@badgerp-chanqueen7707]

I only think about matsutake only

[@annunakian8054]

Not vegan but Third Kingdom looks quite tasty.

[@terenceflanagan1225]

Them shit take mushrooms are expensive boy!umm hmm

[@joker6solitaire]

I love mushrooms, especially shiitake! They make the best broth by far. I actually buy Sugimoto's powdered shiitake mushrooms already! And man, I REALLY wanna go to that Third Kingdom restaurant someday 🤤

[@carlosumana3567]

One time I got some shiitake on my mushroom. 😢

[@terenceflanagan1225]

The wild ones sure look different. Only had them once . Very strong flavor

[@Ali-in-Wonderland.]

0:13 5:08 The next time you’re feeling bad for yourself because your work week feels too long or you’re not making enough money unless it’s borderline crisis situation for you, which I understand and respect that there are special cases, then you need to check yourself and stop being as myopic And instead being inspired by looking out towards the good people and the hardest working and typically the most undermined, used, abused and highly underpaid, working groups of people who tend to keep to themselves, not cause trouble in the community and keep everything running. This is no hate to anybody else. It’s just a reminder to be grateful if you have a life that provides you with a job or any kind of money endeavors that makes life for you and your family a little bit easier. Just watching this very old lady doing intense manual labor, especially for her age just goes to show that what we think we really need is typically more of a desire and you can’t see that until, you’re faced with having to provide for yourself and others under any means necessary, including working literally until you die a very old age. God bless this old lady and her hard work and passion. Again, I hope she is seen as an inspiration to many both from the eastern and the western people of the world. Huge respect to her and all of the hard-working people around the world who go in day and day out and still seem to see the beauty in life 5:08

[@fairyring123]

The Japanese work ethic is very strong, and elderly often choose to work as long as they can, believing it maintains their health and mental sharpness.

[@swimstud5151]

I grow mushrooms! I'll have to give this strain it's own culture and we will give it a go! Computation your way!

[@emorelix]

The guy calling indoor grown shitake as flavourless is just plain lying. So they are expensive for no reason at all. They look prettier, that's about it.

[@neonwasabi8017]

400$ per kilo....... come oooonnn dudesss

[@richardyoung871]

In this video she mentioned shitake mushrooms and I have usef rhem and rhey are not expensive and it doesn't have to be of the Japanese variety just cut off the stem and saute them.Mushrooms in general are a fungus.Mushrooms contain MSG.

[@LilyTheCuteLabra]

Japanese = Expensive

[@nurulabidahnajihahjaini9317]

White flower variety is really delicious!

[@almalyncabansag7189]

I love mushrooms

[@HJRC_]

Pretty shit take

[@brandonmeenan8075]

Holy shiit(ake)!

[@walt_man]

Watcher of Business insider for several years now, always enjoy most of your content and thumbs up when it's good. But do you have to put climate change into nearly *every* video now? Yes, our climate is changing, it always is. We only have weather records going back to the 16th century, and the reliable efforts are closer to the 18th century. Our orbit around the sun may even be more elliptical, and there are a thousand-thousand factors that can effect our planets weather, besides coal and SUV's. The constant climate change comments you get off your guests [Business Insider is the guest in this case] expand on and run with, just appears to be an agenda. Repetitive and boring. Re-think what your team is doing to the LEGACY of this channels content.

[@thatguywhodoessmth]

How do they make shrimp? I'm interested

[@roadking4438]

They are all covered up so as to not contaminate the product , but they handle what is consumed with their bare hands?

[@niean-u8r]

So hands are the great pollution

[@edriancotto7617]

chinese can fake this haha

[@lofu32]

Anyone still remember Austin powers? Please have some Shit....

[@szsea555]

Fancy vocabulary word was used to justify the insanely expensive price tag.

[@niean-u8r]

That's why the prices are so high

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

Workers all covered up except no gloves.

[@ChrisTian-yw7jc]

Gloves ≠! Hygiene Property washed hands are better than gloves.

[@iampdv]

Climate change hysteria - check The usefulness of globalism - check Inclusivity - check

[@user-ni4qq5cx8w]

Halal certified?

[@waveriderpt]

💩ake mushrooms

[@emorelix]

Sheeptarkay

[@entingkabesote2197]

That's small market not even a billion $

[@aroundandround]

We get this “sheethaakay” at our local grocery chain for $10/lb. It’s just called shiitake.

[@C2C.]

The $10/lb. is in-door grown, not wood grown. And the narrator is pronouncing it authentically. The name is Japanese and this is how it's actually pronounced.

[@Enigmatic22]

unfortunately for you “sheethaakey” is the actual Japanese to pronounce shiitake.

[@dawuid1491]

Korean and Chinese shiitake are better