History History
- 19XX
- Founder **Yojiro Hara**, originally from Nagano Prefecture, an inland region with no coastline, moved to Shizuoka in pursuit of his dream of becoming a sushi chef and working near the sea.
- 1964
- Began trading with major fish markets, including Tsukiji Market, specializing in the transportation of live seafood.
- 1985
- Started transporting exhibition fish to aquariums through the company's live seafood transportation network.
During a return trip from a live fish delivery, a trial transport of tuna using a large live-fish transport vehicle proved successful, establishing confidence in long-distance tuna transportation. - 1989
- Established **Izu Chuo Suisan Co., Ltd.**
Supplied Pacific bluefin tuna and natural seawater for the opening of **Kasai Rinkai Aquarium** in Tokyo. This became the foundation for annual bluefin tuna deliveries by both sea and land transport. - 1990
- Started business with **Sunshine International Aquarium**, providing live aquatic animals and natural seawater transportation.
Introduced large specimens of the Napoleon Wrasse (*Cheilinus undulatus*), helping create a nationwide aquarium exhibit trend.
Supplied fish for the opening of **Hakone-en Aquarium**. - 1991
- Supplied live aquatic animals for the opening of **Shinagawa Aquarium** in Tokyo.
Following the development of strong partnerships with Okinawan fishermen, established one of Japan's first large-scale systems for transporting, holding, and distributing ornamental marine fish from Okinawa to mainland Japan.
The Okinawan fish known as "Gurukun" (*Caesio spp.*) became a popular display species in major aquarium tanks throughout Japan. - 1992
- Supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium**.
- 1993
- Supplied fish for the opening of **Moguranpia Aquarium** in Iwate Prefecture.
- 1994
- Completed a new facility dedicated to the holding and distribution of aquarium livestock, one of the first facilities of its kind in Japan.
Supplied fish for the opening of **Moguranpia Aquarium** in Iwate Prefecture. - 1995
- Supplied aquatic animals for the reopening of **Sunshine International Aquarium** following the renovation of its 11th-floor exhibit area.
- 1996
- Began importing and distributing **Leafy Seadragons**.
Exported 3-meter-class Japanese Spider Crabs (*Macrocheira kaempferi*) to **Underwater World Singapore**. - 1999
- Began supplying feed for giant pandas at **Ueno Zoological Gardens**.
- 2000
- Started supplying frozen feed products to **Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium**.
- 2001
- Supplied aquatic animals for the reopening of **Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai**.
Started contracted marine mammal husbandry support services at **Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium**, with approximately 15 staff members assigned. - 2002
- Delivered Sand Tiger Sharks imported from South Africa to **Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe**.
Successfully transported tuna by land from Kochi Prefecture to **Aqua World Oarai**. - 2004
- Supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **Oga Aquarium GAO**.
Supplied aquatic animals for the reopening of **Enoshima Aquarium**.
Yojiro Hara appointed Chairman.
Shoji Hara appointed President. - 2005
- Supplied fish for the opening of **EPSON Shinagawa Aqua Stadium**.
- 2007
- Joined the **Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA)** as a sustaining member.
- 2009
- Supplied fish for a new coral reef exhibit at **Echizen Matsushima Aquarium**.
Provided consulting services for whale shark transportation projects involving air transport from Hainan Island, China, to aquarium facilities in Dalian and Qingdao. - 2010
- Supplied large elasmobranch species and other fish for the "Blue World" Whale Shark Exhibit at **Notojima Aquarium**.
- 2011
- Supplied aquatic animals for the complete renovation and reopening of **Sunshine Aquarium**.
Successfully completed a three-day, 1,800 km transport of a 2-meter Pirarucu (*Arapaima*) from Okinawa to Sunshine Aquarium.
Provided whale shark transportation consulting services for aquarium facilities in Yantai and Dalian, China. - 2012
- Supplied aquatic animals for the renovation of the main tank at **Shinagawa Aquarium**.
- 2013
- Supplied aquatic animals for the renovated migratory fish exhibit at **Sunpiazza Aquarium** in Sapporo.
- 2014
- Supplied Australian marine species for the renovation of the main tank at **Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium**.
Exported Japanese Sardines to **COEX Aquarium** and **LOTTE World Aquarium** in South Korea using large live-fish transport vehicles. - 2015
- Supplied aquatic animals for the complete renovation and reopening of **Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa**.
- 2016
- Supplied aquatic animals for the post-disaster reopening of **Moguranpia Aquarium**.
- 2017
- Supplied fish for the reopening of **Marine World Uminonakamichi**.
Achieved a 100% success rate in the capture, transportation, and delivery of over 30 giant Pirarucu specimens. - 2018
- Joined the **Japanese Aquarium Association** as a supporting member.
- 2019
- Continued supplying feed and aquatic animals without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting aquariums nationwide despite temporary closures.
- 2020
- Delivered 20 shark specimens to the "Sea of Mythology" exhibit at **Shimane Aquarium AQUAS**.
Exported and supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **Xpark Aquarium** in Taiwan. - 2022
- Supplied medium- and large-sized marine fish from Okinawa for a major leisure facility aquarium in Nagoya.
Began annual deliveries of tens of thousands of Japanese Horse Mackerel to the fishing facilities at **Kinosaki Marine World**, supporting educational programs that promote the "catch, cook, and eat" experience. - 2023
- Supplied additional Okinawan marine fish for a major leisure facility aquarium in Nagoya.
Supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **AOAO SAPPORO**. - 2024
- Maintained a 100% success rate in the capture, transportation, and delivery of over 30 giant Pirarucu specimens.
Supplied fish for the reopening of **Notojima Aquarium** following earthquake recovery efforts.
Yoshikazu Hara appointed President and Representative Director.
Delivered Japan's first **Sarawak Pygmy Swell Shark**, known for laying transparent egg cases, to **Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai**. - 2025
- Supplied fish for the reopening of **Notojima Aquarium** following earthquake recovery efforts.
Company name changed to **Izu Chuo Holdings Co., Ltd.** in April.
Delivered Japan's first **Taiwanese Giant Isopod** to **Toba Aquarium** and several other aquarium facilities.
Supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **Motomachi Aquarium** in Hiroshima.
Supplied aquatic animals for the opening of **Shin Mariho Aquarium** in Hiroshima. - 2026
- Supplied Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, and Sarawak Pygmy Swell Sharks for the special exhibition **"Sea Para Shark Expo"** at **Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise**.
As of March 31, 2026
○ Major Achievements
* Established large-scale ornamental fish transportation from Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, to Shizuoka (approximately 2,000 km).
* Regular supplier of Japanese Sardines to more than 25 aquariums in Japan and overseas, including Enoshima Aquarium, Kyoto Aquarium, Notojima Aquarium, and Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe.
* Exported over 1,000 Japanese Spider Crabs, one of the world's largest crustaceans, to domestic and international aquariums since 1989.
* Responsible for bluefin tuna transportation services for Kasai Rinkai Aquarium since its opening.
* Delivered Giant Isopods to more than 40 aquariums worldwide since 2008.
* Delivered Indonesian Sea Nettles to more than 30 aquariums worldwide since 2013.
○ Business Network
* Over 150 domestic aquariums, museums, universities, and research institutions
* Approximately 135 overseas aquariums
* More than 300 retail partners throughout Japan