AIXIA Corporation (アイシア株式会社) is a Japanese pet food manufacturer and brand best known for its wet cat food products made with fish such as tuna and bonito. Headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, the company operates as part of the Umios Group, a Japanese corporate group focused on seafood. Its core business encompasses the manufacture, processing and sale of pet food.1 The company’s identity is closely linked to Japan’s seafood industry; it leverages the group’s seafood processing technology and procurement capabilities to develop its products, which explains its longstanding emphasis on fish-based cat food.2

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AIXIA is not merely a single product line but a pet food company with a diverse portfolio of brands. While historically associated with cat food—including wet and dry varieties, functional foods, treats and age-specific formulations—the company has expanded into dog food, launching frozen dog food products in 2025.4 The corporate vision centres on “creating happiness from living with pets”, reflecting its focus on enhancing lifestyles for both pets and their owners.5

The Japanese slogan 「あいする、しあわせ。」translates approximately to “Loving, happiness” or “The happiness of loving”. The name AIXIA itself combines Ai (愛, love) and Shia (幸, happiness), with the “X” symbolising the bond connecting people and pets.6

Although the current corporate entity was established in 1990, AIXIA’s origins date back to 1970.

Origins and early development

The predecessor to AIXIA was founded in 1970 as Purina Taiyo Pet Food Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Taiyo Gyogyo (later Maruha) and Ralston Purina.7 This partnership provided the business with an early foundation in both pet food production and the seafood industry. In 1977, the company introduced canned Purina Cat Food. Due to its distinctive black packaging, consumers nicknamed it “Kurokan” (黒缶, Black Can), a name that was eventually adopted officially and became one of the company’s most recognisable products.8

In 1983, the company launched Fish Special, described by AIXIA as Japan’s first nationally distributed retort pouch wet cat food.9 Another significant product line, Kin-can (金缶, Gold Can), emerged in 1987 as a premium canned cat food based on tuna and manufactured in Japan.10

Independence and growth

Following the dissolution of the joint venture with Ralston Purina, Taiyo Pet Food Co., Ltd. was established in 1990 with 100% investment from Taiyo Gyogyo. This marks the direct corporate origin of today’s AIXIA Corporation, allowing the company to utilise its parent’s expertise in canned seafood processing and tuna procurement. In 1992, the company introduced Jun-kan (純缶), further strengthening its wet cat food portfolio.3 After its parent company changed its name from Taiyo Gyogyo to Maruha, the subsidiary became Maruha Pet Food Co., Ltd. in 1993.3

By September 1997, AIXIA had become the best-selling wet cat food brand in Japan based on AC Nielsen data. Historical records indicate the brand held this top position for approximately eight consecutive years until December 2005, and again for six consecutive years from January 2006 through December 2011.3

Rebranding and innovation

The company adopted the name AIXIA Corporation in 2005 to reflect its philosophy of cultivating love between pets and people and creating happiness.5 In 2007, it launched the MiawMiaw (ミャウミャウ) series, developed in collaboration with Kitasato University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. This range incorporates an ingredient called a-i peptide, created through research with Professor Keizo Arihara.3

Between 2017 and 2018, AIXIA expanded beyond conventional wet cat food with products such as Osakana Seikatsu and health-oriented pouches.3 In 2022, it introduced Kenko-kan Pouch Jinkatsu, focusing on DHA and feline kidney health through collaborative research involving Iwate University, Umios’ Central Research Institute and AIXIA.3 The i CARE series followed in 2024, formulated without colouring agents, colour fixatives, fragrances or thickening stabilisers to address owner concerns.3

In 2025, AIXIA entered the dog food market with frozen pet food supervised by the chef of BLACK TERRACE in Tokyo, alongside the launch of its AIXIA Wan-Chi Room social media presence for dog owners.3

AIXIA manages a segmented portfolio catering to different consumer needs.

Kurokan

Originating from the 1977 Purina Cat Food product, Kurokan (黒缶, Black Can) is a long-selling mainstream cat food brand with over 40 years of history. Recipes are centred on tuna and bonito red meat, and the black packaging remains one of the most recognisable visual elements in the company’s history.3

Kin-can

Kin-can (金缶, Gold Can) represents the premium segment of AIXIA’s cat food portfolio. Marketed as a high-quality canned cat food based on maguro (tuna) and made in Japan, the range also includes Kin-can Rich products featuring a richer sauce.3

MiawMiaw

MiawMiaw (ミャウミャウ) is a modern flagship brand encompassing wet food, pouches, creamy treats, flakes, multi-packs and recipes for senior cats. A defining feature is the a-i peptide concept, derived from fish protein and developed in collaboration with Kitasato University.3

Kenko-kan

Kenko-kan (健康缶, Health Can) focuses on nutritional and health-related needs, including hydration, energy and ageing. The 2022 kidney-oriented product forms part of this broader health-food direction.3

MediCare Cat

MediCare Cat is a specialised healthcare-oriented line providing targeted nutritional support. It is listed among the company’s major dedicated brand sites.3

i CARE

Introduced in 2024, i CARE reflects a trend towards simpler formulations. The relevant wet food products are specifically formulated without colouring agents, colour fixatives, fragrances or thickening stabilisers to cater to ingredient-conscious owners.3

AIXIA distinguishes itself through several key characteristics:

• Seafood heritage: Unlike companies approaching pet food purely as an agricultural business, AIXIA grew out of a seafood processing enterprise. This provides particular strength in tuna, bonito and other fish-based products in canned and pouch formats, applying the group’s seafood processing technology directly to pet food.2
• Wet food expertise: The brand is historically synonymous with wet cat food in Japan, with a development timeline spanning canned food, retort pouches and moist formats. Its long tenure as a market leader in this category forms a core part of its brand DNA.3
• Japanese manufacturing: Many products, particularly premium ranges like Kin-can and MiawMiaw, emphasise their Made in Japan status, associating the brand with Japanese food manufacturing standards, seafood expertise and quality control.3
• Product segmentation: Rather than a generic offering, the portfolio covers everyday nutrition, premium food, treats, functional nutrition, senior care and specific health concerns, addressing a wide spectrum of cat owner needs within a single corporate structure.

AIXIA’s R&D strategy involves collaboration with academic and research institutions. Notable partnerships include work with Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine to develop the a-i peptide concept for MiawMiaw,3 and joint research with Iwate University and Umios’ Central Research Institute on DHA and feline kidney health, which contributed to the development of Kenko-kan Jinkatsu.3 These collaborations position the company at the intersection of traditional Japanese food manufacturing and veterinary science.

Beyond manufacturing, AIXIA engages with cat owners through platforms such as AIXIA NyanTube and initiatives like the Gokuraku Neko Calendar photo campaign.3 The company also provides educational resources covering cat rearing, food selection, hydration, kidney disease, food allergies, grain-free diets and oral care. These efforts reinforce a positioning focused on the holistic relationship between people and companion animals rather than solely on product sales.3

While historically strongest among Japanese cat owners purchasing wet food, AIXIA’s portfolio addresses multiple consumer segments:

AIXIA is a Japanese pet food company with deep roots in the seafood industry, best known for established wet cat food brands such as Kurokan, Kin-can and MiawMiaw. With a history tracing back to 1970, the current corporation was established in 1990 and adopted the AIXIA name in 2005.3 Its historical strength in wet cat food derives from seafood processing and tuna procurement capabilities inherited from its corporate predecessors. Today, as part of the Umios Group, AIXIA continues to expand into functional nutrition and dog food while maintaining a strategy centred on quality ingredients, innovation, pet health and fostering positive relationships between pets and their owners.3

1. 会社概要｜会社情報｜アイシア株式会社 | ペットフード・キャットフードなら、あいする、しあわせ。AIXIA
2. AIXIA Corporation
3. History | AIXIA Corporation
4. Profile | AIXIA Corporation
5. 沿革｜会社情報｜アイシア株式会社 | ペットフード・キャットフードなら、あいする、しあわせ。AIXIA
6. アイシアの想い｜会社情報｜アイシア株式会社 | ペットフード・キャットフードなら、あいする、しあわせ。AIXIA
7. 人がいて猫がいて家族の毎日。黒缶｜アイシア（AIXIA）
8. Products | AIXIA Corporation
9. アイシア株式会社 | ペットフード・キャットフードなら、あいする、しあわせ。AIXIA
10. アイシア株式会社 | ペットフード・キャットフードなら、あいする、しあわせ。AIXIA