Yasuko Kuroda is executive vice president of New Jersey-based Fuji Health Science, Inc. She has been with Fuji Chemical since 1995 and Fuji Health Science since its establishment in 2004. She has been involved with international business development of pharmaceutical ingredients since the early 1990s throughout the Americas and Europe. Since the turn of the century, she has also been involved with specialty ingredients for the nutritional industry with a focus on AstaREAL astaxanthin, one of the most studied branded astaxanthin ingredients in the world with more than 50 clinical studies.

Health E-Insights: Dr. Joseph Mercola was recently interviewed on the Dr. Oz show where he heartily sang the praises of astaxanthin.

Ms. Kuroda: It was quite interesting. After the airing of the Dr. Oz show, we received a flood of phone calls from consumers asking where they can buy astaxanthin. Since we are not a producer of a retail astaxanthin product, we offered our customer’s names who formulate with AstaREAL, Fuji’s astaxanthin brand. As a result, we have received an increase in product inquiries from our customers who have indicated an increase in retail product sales. By the way, we know for a fact, Dr. Mercola uses a retail product formulated with AstaREAL.

Health E-Insights: Fuji Health Science has conducted numerous vision studies. Dr. Mercola said astaxanthin is good for cataract prevention?

Ms. Kuroda: Fuji has conducted 11 human clinical studies for eye fatigue. The studies demonstrate that AstaREAL astaxanthin reduces eye strain and eye fatigue. It also improves visual acuity. Overall, we have more than 50 clinical studies in different areas such as cardio, skin, diabetes and muscle recovery. We also hold seven patents.
 
Health E-Insights: What has been Fuji’s most effective marketing tactic or technique to promote astaxanthin?

Ms. Kuroda: AstaREAL astaxanthin is produced by an in-door photo bio-reactor system in Sweden and has the purest quality. As such, our strength has been and will be science and quality. We also promote AstaREAL by offering seminars to update the industry to our continued research.

Health E-Insights: What can you share about Fuji’s plans for growth?

Ms. Kuroda: We continue to put our efforts into expanding astaxanthin science. AstaREAL is the only astaxanthin that attains FDA Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status based on our science. We trust that research and science represents Fuji and our quality.  

Health E-Insights: What is the biggest challenge Fuji faces as a company?

Ms. Kuroda: Astaxanthin is difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to spell for the public-at-large when they hear about it on TV or radio. So you could say that’s one big challenge at the retail level. Within the industry astaxanthin has become well-established as a powerful antioxidant and we are seeing sales increase.

Health E-Insights: Any plans to relocate and get away from the awful New Jersey weather?

Ms. Kuroda: Oh, I would love to move to Hawaii, but production has been consolidated to our Swedish facility, where my colleagues deal with even more severe winter weather. Our Hawaii facility is used as a development facility for new microalgae related ingredients.

For more information and interview consideration, contact Sheldon Baker at [email protected] or visit his website at www.BakerDillon.com. And check out his blog at www.NutraInk.com.