Across the country, soymilk is very popular and many varieties can reliably be found. Many markets also carry almond milk. In larger cities, specialty stores may also have other types of non-dairy milks as well. Although generally, the only types of non-dairy milks that larger supermarkets stock will be soy or almond, there are a few exceptions, some which are shown at the bottom of the page. There are also some coffees made with non-dairy milk, some of which are vegan and some are not.

Some non-dairy milks contain flavoring and emulsifiers which may be animal-derived or sugar that may be bone-char processed. We have marked below wherever we have information on how these ingredients were made. 

There are too many (particularly soy) milks sold in Japan to list them all here, so this is a representative list of what you may find the most easily in stores. Please check the ingredient list of any product you may find before consuming.

In Tokyo, the grocery stores National Azabu in Hiroo and the chain Bio C’ Bon (also in Kanagawa Prefecture) may have some of the best selection of non-dairy milks in the country. Their rotating selection often includes those that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere (except in natural food stores) such as hemp milk. Prices may be higher than at other stores. The photos below were taken at National Azabu in February 2020.

The Hokkaido 3.6 Milk/北海道3.6牛乳 in the bottom left of the first photo is dairy milk and is not vegan.

   

The photo below was taken at Bio C’ Bon in Akasaka, Tokyo in February, 2020.

There are too many types of soymilk available to detail them all here, but let’s look at some examples, as well as some soymilks to avoid that contain animal products.

SOYMILK

Soymilk (豆乳 – tōnyū) is easy to find in Japan. It is available in most supermarkets and convenience stores, and many flavored varieties are available too.

Where vegans have to be careful is in relation to additives like:
• emulsifier (乳化剤 – nyūkazai)
• calcium lactate (乳酸カルシウム or 乳酸Ca – nyūsan karushiumu)
• flavoring (香料 – kōryō)
• stabilizing agent (安定剤 – antei-zai)

To the left you can see emulsifier, calcium lactate and flavoring in the list of ingredients of one of the most common brands of soymilk in Japan (in this case coffee flavored). These additives are in many brands of soymilk, so it is best to contact the manufacturer to check whether they are plant or animal-derived.

If you want to be 100% certain the soymilk is vegan, you should look for ‘non-adjusted’ soymilk (無調整豆乳- mu chōsei tōnyū) (as opposed to adjusted soymilk, 調整豆乳- chōsei tōnyū, which has added ingredients, or soymilk beverages, 豆乳飲料- tōnyū inryou, which also have added ingredients and are flavored beverages based on soy, for example coffee-flavored). ‘Non-adjusted’ soymilk only contains soybeans and can even be used to make tofu! If you find the consistency is a little too thick, just add some water. Please note that this type of soymilk is not calcium fortified. Below are some brands of non-adjusted soymilk we have found.

NON-ADJUSTED SOYMILK

In 2019, Kikkoman stated that they use beef bone char as a filtering agent for the sugar production process of their soymilks. They also stated they use no other animal-derived agents in the process of making the soymilks. The Oishii Muchousei and Hokkaido-san Daizu Muchosei (Hokkaido Unadjusted Soymilk) do not use sugar nor any of the animal-derived ingredients they stated they use in some of their products (vitamin D, shell calcium, or honey), meaning they’re animal-ingredient-free in the finished product as well as have no animal ingredients used in processing. Both of these products are pictured below. 

Under pressure from PETA, Kikkoman agreed to stop animal testing as of 2015, except when accountable to public safety or to comply with the demands of government authorities.

Their animal testing policy is here (English).

Zero cholesterol, contains soy isoflavones and lecithin. 2020 Monde Selection Gold Award winner.

• Kikkoman Oishii Muchousei (Delicious Unadjusted) Soymilk/キッコーマン　おいしい無調整豆乳. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified).

    

• Kikkoman Hokkaido-san Daizu Muchousei (Unadjusted Soymilk)/キッコーマン　北海道産大豆無調整豆乳. Ingredients: Soybeans (domestically produced and not genetically modified).

Uses only soybeans from the northern island of Hokkaido.

   

• Marusan Organic Unadjusted Soymilk/Marusan 有機豆乳無調整. Ingredients: 100% organic soybeans (non-genetically modified). 

Has a soybean solid content of 9%. Uses soybeans from China and America.

Photo from website.

The following two photo was taken in March 2021.

• Marusan Soy Premium Unadjusted Soymilk/ソイプレミアム ひとつ上の豆乳 成分無調整. Ingredients: Soybean (domestic) (not genetically modified).

Soybean solid quantity of 11%. 2017-2019 Monde Selection Gold Award winner.

Product contains soybeans. 

• Otsuka Amazing Soy Premium Yukipirika/大塚 スゴイダイズ　プレミアム　ゆきぴりか. Ingredients: Soybean powder, not genetically modified.

Unadjusted soymilk with a refreshing taste. High isoflavone soybean “Yukipirika” is used to create a drink with 100 mg of isoflavones in 200 ml of product. Like non-premium unadjusted Amazing Soy, this product doesn’t have an aftertaste.

• Otsuka Amazing Soy, Unadjusted/大塚 スゴイダイズ 無調整タイプ. Ingredients: 100% soybean powder from Hokkaido, not genetically modified.

Whole Hokkaido soybeans are selected for taste and used without removing the okara lees, only the soybean skin. 10% or more soybean solid content. A new manufacturing method removes the aftertaste so it can be used for drinking or cooking.

   

• Sujahta Meiraku Drinkable Soybeans, Soymilk with Soy Pulp/スジャータ　めいらく 豆腐+おから　のむ大豆. Ingredients: Soybean flour (USA or Canada) (not genetically modified).

Dietary fiber, soy isoflavone, soy protein, lecithin are all included. The thin skin of the soybean has been removed.

The website states: Contains soybean (soymilk). If you are allergic, please refrain from ingestion. Even for those who do not develop allergic symptoms with other soybean foods, there are rare cases of allergy onset. When drinking for the first time we recommend that you try a small amount.

    

• Sujahta Meiraku Organic Soymilk, also for Tofu-making/スジャータ　めいらく　豆腐もできます有機豆乳. Ingredients: 100% organic soybeans from Canada or America (non-genetically modified). Contains soybean-derived GABA.

Instructions for making this soymilk into tofu at home can be found here.

The website states: Contains soybean (soymilk). If you are allergic, please refrain from ingestion. Even for those who do not develop allergic symptoms with other soybean foods, there are rare cases of allergy onset. When drinking for the first time we recommend that you try a small amount.

    

• TopValu Unadjusted Ingredient Soymilk/トップバリュ　オーガニック 成分無調整豆乳. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (China, America).

Photo from website.

Only contains listed ingredient (and water) per the company.

Photo from website.

Below are some examples of ‘adjusted’ soymilk (調整豆乳 – chōsei tōnyū) and soymilk beverages, 豆乳飲料- tōnyū inryou. As we said above, if you want to make sure the soymilk is vegan, you should contact the manufacturer to check whether any of the ingredients are derived from animals.

ADJUSTED SOYMILK AND SOYMILK BEVERAGES

Some Aeon supermarkets began stocking Alpro soymilk in late 2019.

Alpro Soya Unsweetened is gluten-free, contains no sugars or sweeteners and 120 mg of calcium and 0.38 µg of vitamin B12 per 100ml.

• Alpro Soya Unsweetened. Ingredients: Soya base (Water, Hulled soya beans (8.7%)), Acidity regulators (Potassium phosphates), Calcium (Calcium carbonate), Flavourings, Sea salt, Stabiliser (Gellan gum), Vitamins (B2, B12, D2).

    

Kagome has three mixed fruit/vegetable/soy drinks called Soy Plus as part of their “Life with Vegetables/野菜生活” line. Kagome does animal testing. When the products launched in 2020, the emulsifier of the Mellow Plain and Berry Prune Mix flavors was reported to be vegetable emulsifier. The Orange Mango Mix flavor was added afterwards and would presumably have the same emulsifier. The drinks have 7 grams of vegetable protein.

The following photo was taken in March 2021. 

• Kagome Life with Vegetables Berry Prune Mix Soy Plus/Kagome 野菜生活Ｓｏｙ＋ベリープルーン Mix. Ingredients: Fruit (apples (imported), pineapple, raspberry, blueberry, lemon), vegetables (carrot, kale, spinach, asparagus, watercress, parsley, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, beets, daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, onion, celery), soybeans, prune extract, defatted soybeans, soymilk, salt (from Okinawa Prefecture)/emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, flavoring, cellulose, stabilizing agent (gellan gum), ferric pyrophosphate.

Product contains soybeans and apple.

• Kagome Life with Vegetables Mellow Plain Soy Plus/Kagome 野菜生活Ｓｏｙ＋まろやかプレーン. Ingredients: Fruit (apples (imported), pineapple, lemon), vegetables (satsumaimo, carrot, kale, spinach, asparagus, watercress, parsley, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, beets, daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, onion, celery), soybeans, defatted soybeans, dietary fiber, soymilk, salt (from Okinawa Prefecture)/emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, cellulose, flavoring, stabilizing agent (gellan gum).

Product contains soybeans and apple.

Photo from website.

• Kagome Life with Vegetables Orange Mango Mix Soy Plus/Kagome 野菜生活Ｓｏｙ＋ オレンジ・マンゴーMix. Ingredients: Fruits (apples (imported), pineapples, oranges, mangoes, lemons), vegetables (carrots, kale, spinach, asparagus, watercress, parsley, pumpkins, lettuce, cabbage, beets, daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, onions, celery), soybeans, defatted soybeans, soymilk, salt (from Okinawa prefecture)/emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, flavoring, vitamin C, cellulose, stabilizing agent (gellan gum), vitamin E.

Product contains oranges, soybeans, and apples. 

There’s also an Oats Plus version available in the following prefectures for a limited time according to the website: Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka as well as in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The website further states that no sweetener is added. 

• Kagome Life with Vegetables Oats Plus Oatmilk Mix/Kagome 野菜生活Ｏａｔｓ＋ オーツミルクMix. Ingredients: Oat milk (oats) (domestically produced), vegetables (carrots, kale, spinach, asparagus, watercress, parsley, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, beets, daikon, Chinese cabbage, onions, celery), fruits (grape, lemon), dietary fiber, sunflower oil, salt/emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, flavoring, antioxidant (vitamin C), stabilizer (gellan gum), cellulose.

Product includes wheat.

Photos taken in September 2021. 

In 2019, Kikkoman stated that they use beef bone char as a filtering agent for the sugar production process of their soymilks. They also stated they use no other animal-derived agents in the process of making the soymilks. They said the animal ingredients they use in some of their soymilks are: vitamin D/ビタミンＤ (which is lanolin-derived), shell calcium/貝カルシウム, or honey/はちみつ .

In the Q & A section of their website the company previously confirmed that their soymilk does not contain any milk products and that the emulsifier is plant-based. They make too many flavors to picture here, but we’ll show known flavors that have animal ingredients in the finished product so you can avoid them. 

Under pressure from PETA, Kikkoman agreed to stop animal testing as of 2015, except when accountable to public safety or to comply with the demands of government authorities.

Their animal testing policy is here (English).

Taking the information Kikkoman released in 2019 into account and checking the ingredient list of new products for the ingredients they stated are of animal origin, current information as of April 2021 is:

The rest of their products don’t have animal ingredients but do use bone char to process the sugar, although it does not remain in the finished product. 

Here is the one flavored soymilk where no animal products were used in processing because it contains no sugar, the Low-Sugar Bakuga Coffee (Malt Coffee) Soymilk Beverage. 

• Kikkoman Low Sugar Bakuga Coffee (Malt Coffee) Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマン　低糖質　豆乳飲料麦芽コーヒー. Ingredients: Soybean (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), malt extract, coffee powder (caffeine-less), erythritol, sun-dried salt, rice oil/emulsifier, flavoring, sweetener (acesulfame K, stevia), thickener (carrageenan).

Product contains soybeans.

Photo from website. 

Here are the products that use animal ingredients:

•  Kikkoman Cocoa Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマンココア豆乳飲料: has lanolin (source of Vitamin D/ビタミンＤ)

• Kikkoman Fruits Mix Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマンフルーツミックス豆乳飲料 has lanolin (source of vitamin D/ビタミンＤ)

• Kikkoman Tokunou Chousei (Rich Processed) Soymilk /キッコーマン特濃調製豆乳 has lanolin (source of vitamin D/ビタミンＤ).

    

• Kikkoman Noukou Chousei (Rich Processed) Soymilk /キッコーマン濃厚調製豆乳 (For home delivery only/配達専用) has lanolin (source of vitamin D/ビタミンＤ).

• Kikkoman Low Sugar Chousei (Processed) Soymilk/キッコーマン低糖質調製豆乳 has lanolin (source of vitamin D/ビタミンＤ)

• Kikkoman Hokkaido-san Rich Processed Chousei (Adjusted) Soymilk/キッコーマン特濃調整豆乳: has vitamin D/ビタミンＤ (presumably derived from lanolin like all the rest)

•  Kikkoman Black Sesame Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマン黒ごま豆乳飲料: has honey/はちみつ.

•  Kikkoman Honey Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマンはちみつ豆乳飲料: has honey/はちみつ/hachimitsu.

•  Kikkoman Matcha Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマン抹茶豆乳飲料: has shell calcium/貝カルシウム.

The rest of their adjusted soymilks and soymilk beverages contain bone-char processed sugar. 

Probably their most famous soymilk product is their regular adjusted soymilk, which is used widely across Japan, including in many commercial establishments (coffees and smoothies are often made with this) and vegan items (unless you’re in a vegan restaurant that specifically states they don’t use bone-char processed sugar, in which case they might use something like unadjusted soymilk instead).

At the bottom of the package it reads “植物性たんぱく飲料,” shokubutsu-sei tanpaku inryō, meaning “vegetable protein drink.” 

Out of the five types in Kikkoman’s Adjusted Soymilk section as of a review of the Kikkoman website in April 2021, this is the only one without the added vitamin D. 

• Kikkoman Adjusted Soymilk/キッコーマン　調製豆乳. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada or USA) (not genetically modified), sugar, rice oil, sun-dried salt/calcium lactate, emulsifier, thickener (carrageenan), flavoring.

Product contains soybeans. 

There are too many soymilk beverages to list them all here, and new flavors are often introduced. Check their Soymilk Beverages section for the full range (noting that the non-vegan products are listed above). Here are a few examples:

• Kikkoman Banana Flavored Soymilk Beverage/キッコーマン　バナナ. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), sugar, banana puree, rice oil/thickener (pectin, cellulose), flavoring, gardenia pigment. 

Product contains soybeans and banana.

• Kikkoman Coffee Flavored Soymilk/キッコーマン　麦芽コーヒー. Ingredients: Soybeans (from Canada or America) (non-genetically modified), sugar, malt extract, rice oil, coffee extract, chicory extract, dextrin, sun-dried salt/caramel color, calcium lactate, emulsifier, flavoring, thickener (carrageenan).

Product contains soybeans.

This is a new product as of early 2021. The photos below were taken in April 2021. 

• Kikkoman Soy Body, Cocoa/キッコーマンソイボディ　ココア. Ingredients: Soymilk (soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), powdered soy protein, sugar, cocoa powder, rice oil, sun salt, powdered okara/antioxidant (vitamin C, vitamin E), thickeners (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), cyclic oligosaccharide, emulsifier, flavoring.

   

• Kikkoman Soy Body, Original/キッコーマンソイボディ　オリジナル. Ingredients: Soy milk (soy (Canada or America) (not genetically modified)), powdered soy protein, sugar, maple sugar, rice oil, sun salt, powdered okara/antioxidant (vitamin C, vitamin E), thickeners (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), cyclic oligosaccharide, emulsifier, flavoring.

        

A well-known company called Marusan currently sells more than twenty types of soymilk, including non-adjusted, organic, coffee, and fruit flavors, but some use non-vegan ingredients like honey. Check the ingredients on their website here. A few of the soymilk options they offer are shown below. They also sell two flavors of a vegan protein drink online and at retailers including Natural Lawson that are certified vegan by VegeProject Japan.

The following flavor is no longer on the Marusan website so it seems it’s been discontinued, however, as of June 2021, it is still possible to buy it online via Lohaco.

• Marusan Co-Trip Black Sesame and Sweet Potato Soymilk Beverage/Marusan ことりっぷ　豆乳飲料 黒ごまさつま. Ingredients: Soybean (Canada) (not genetically modified), saccharides (sugar, millet jelly, fructose), vegetable oil, salt, sesame paste, Anno roasted potato paste/flavoring, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (gellan).

Product contains soy and sesame.

This collaboration product with travel book co-Trip uses black sesame and “annou imo,” a special type of potato with a high sugar content and orange-hued flesh.

Online purchase link: Lohaco 

   

• Marusan Co-Trip Brown Sugar Syrup Soymilk Beverage/Marusan ことりっぷ　豆乳飲料 黒蜜きなこ. Ingredients: Soybean (Canadian) (not genetically modified), saccharides (high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, sugar, brown sugar syrup), soy powder, salt, mirin, yeast extract powder/flavoring, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide).

Product contains soybeans.

This collaboration product with travel book co-Trip is made with Japanese brown sugar syrup called kuromitsu and kinako soy powder and is meant to taste like a traditional dessert.

   

• Marusan Malt Soymilk Beverage/麦芽豆乳飲料.   Ingredients: Sugars (high-fructose corn syrup, starch syrup), soybeans (not genetically modified), vegetable oil, malt extract, coffee extract powder, salt/calcium lactate.

It has coffee extract powder added so it tastes like soy coffee.

   

The following photo was taken in March 2021.

• Marusan Soy Premium Kocha (Japanese Black Tea) Soymilk Beverage/Marusan　ソイプレミアム ひとつ上の豆乳 豆乳飲料紅茶. Ingredients: Black tea extract, soybeans (not genetically modified), sugar, salt/flavoring, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier.

Product contains soybeans. 

The following photo was taken in March 2021. Both products are certified vegan by VegeProject Japan. 

The Cacao Soy Latte was released in March 2021. 

• Marusan Vegan Protein Cacao Soy Latte. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada), organic blue agave syrup, organic powdered pea protein, powdered soybean protein, cocoa powder, salt/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), baking soda.

Product contains soy. 

The Matcha Soy Latte was renewed in March 2021.

• Marusan Vegan Protein Matcha Soy Latte. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada), organic blue agave syrup, organic powdered pea protein, powdered soybean protein, matcha, salt/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), baking soda.

Product contains soy. 

Ingredients: Sugar (manufactured in Japan), coffee, soy milk, soybean powder, edible oils and fats, salt/flavoring, emulsifier, stabilizer (polysaccharide thickener, CMC, cellulose), potassium chloride, magnesium chloride

Product contains soybeans.

The previous version of the Morinaga Mt. Rainier Soy Latte was found in a branch of Family Mart in September 2020. While the company originally stated it is “also recommended for vegans,” per the company, the emulsifier contained animal product(s). The company amended their website to correct the information, stating “Product contains animal ingredient(s)/一部動物性の原料を使用しております.”

• Mt. Rainier Soy Latte/ソイラテ. Ingredients: Soymilk (contains soybeans), high-fructose corn syrup, coffee/cellulose, flavoring, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (carageenan).

Out of the 27 specified allergens, this product contains soybeans.

Last photo from website.

   

However, in 2023, Morinaga Milk Industry updated the Plant Based Soy Latte product and released a Plant Based Oat Latte, both certified vegan by VegeProject Japan. Image from the VegeProject Japan Instagram account (bilingual). The Soy Latte has been found in 7-11 convenience stores. 

The following product is sold in the convenience store Mini Stop.

• Soy Latte/ソイラテ. Ingredients: Soymilk (domestically manufactured), sugar, coffee, vegetable oil, salt/emulsifier, flavoring.

Product contains soy.

The Vegana No Japao blog (now defunct) contacted customer service about a previous version of this product and confirmed that at that time, the emulsifier was made of plants. It is not clear if the same emulsifier is still being used.

Photos taken in July 2023.

In early 2021, Nestle’s Nescafe released a line of oat and almond coffees in liquid, powder (just add water) and capsule types for coffee machines. Check the press release here. There’s also information given on the English-language Nescafe site: Nestle Japan Launches Plant-Based Coffee Lattes. Some have been found in shops earlier than their reported release dates. It’s reported that the customer service stated the products are free of animal ingredients, but they use bone-char processed sugar (except for the capsule versions- the two products on the left of the following photo).

Photo from press release.

This box of almond latte capsules (second from left in above photo) was spotted in a branch of Ito Yokado supermarket in March 2021 and does have a certified vegan mark on it. It’s possible to drink it even if you don’t have the Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine by cutting the capsule open with a pair of scissors and adding the powder inside to hot water yourself. 

• Nescafe Dolce Gusto Almond Latte/Nescafe Dolce Gusto アーモンドラテ.

       

This brown sugar soymilk beverage contains vegetable lactic acid (from barley) and euglena. Note that euglena is considered to be neither a plant nor an animal, but a single-celled protist. However, Pokka Sapporo’s website states that they do test this specific lactic acid (SBL88) on mice. Photo taken in April 2021. 

• Pokka Sapporo Ishigakijima Island Brown Sugar Soymilk Beverage/黒糖豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Soybean, kokutō sugar, salt, vegetable oil, Euglena gracilis powder, lactic acid bacteria (sterilized), calcium lactate, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharides), flavoring.

Product contains soybeans. 

This zero-cholesterol beverage uses traditional ingredients kinako powder (roasted soybean flour) and kokutō. Photo taken in March 2021.

• Pokka Sapporo Soyafarm Delicious and Refreshing Roasted Soybean Flour Soymilk Beverage/ソヤファーム おいしさスッキリ きな粉豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Soymilk, sugars (kokutō, san’ontō), roasted soybean flour, salt, agar/cellulose, calcium lactate, pH adjusting agent, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavoring.

Product includes soybeans.

Provamel is available in some higher-end shops.

• Provamel Soya with Banana Drink. Ingredients: Water, raw cane sugar*, hulled soya beans (7.2%)*, corn maltodextrin*, natural banana flavouring with other natural flavourings , sea salt.

• Provamel Soya with Chocolate Drink. Ingredients: Water, hulled soya beans * (7.8%), raw cane sugar*, fat reduced cocoa* (1.3%), chocolate* (1.1%), sea salt, thickener (locust bean gum), bourbon vanilla extract*

• Provamel Soya with Strawberry Drink. Ingredients: Water, hulled soya beans (7,2%)*, raw cane sugar, natural flavouring, sea salt.

• Provamel Soya Original with Calcium Drink. Ingredients: Water, hulled soyabeans* (9,8%), apple concentrate* (3,3%), algae Lithothamnium calcereum (0,4%), sea salt

* = organically grown/produced

Vegan, organic, gluten-free, wheat-free per Provamel’s website.

Allergy information: Contains soya. Produced in a nut-free production facility.

Online purchase links: Bio c’ Bon (Soya Calcium 250ml), Bio c’ Bon (Soya Calcium 1L) 

A 60 year-old tofu company called Sagamiya is currently selling various soy cheeses in regular supermarkets across Japan. Check our Non-Dairy Butter, Cheese, Cream, Margarine & Yogurts section for more details.

LiveKindly has an interesting article on some of their Beyond Tofu products here (English). The products can also be bought in Sagamiya’s online shop. However, in terms of drinks, things are not as promising for vegans. Their previous Nomu Tofu drink and current (as of May 2020) Beyond Tofu Latte, Beyond Tofu Mocha Latte and Beyond Tofu To-Go drinks are not vegan as they contain honey/はちみつ. Unfortunately, the packaging of the last three products now prominently states “100% Plant-Based Foods” on the front in English.

Although they sell a product called Beyond Tofu, the company has no relation to the American company Beyond Meat.

• Sagamiya’s Tofu Latte in regular and mocha both contain honey.

Photo from website.

The Starbucks Silky Soy Latte mix says “plant-based” in English on the package. It’s available at retailers including Family Mart convenience stores and Aeon. It’s a Nestle product. Photo taken April 2021. 

• Starbucks Silky Soy Latte/スターバックス　なめらか　ソイ　ラテ. Ingredients: Vegetable creaming powder (powdered starch syrup, vegetable oil, rice flour, rice protein hydrolyzate), soymilk powder (soybeans, maltose), coffee, sugar, salt/calcium carbonate, baking soda, citric acid, sunflower lecithin, flavoring.

Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains soybeans. 

Online purchase link: Rakuten Ichiba

   

Sujahta Meiraku makes adjusted soymilks as well as small, 330 ml containers of flavored soymilk beverages. The flavors on offer change occasionally. The product page for all their soymilks and soy beverages is here.

Their flavored soymilk beverages can be found in supermarkets. Some flavors occasionally turn up in convenience stores or vending machines.   

They also sell a larger container of adjusted soymilk with less sugar. It uses artificial sweeteners.

• Sujahta Meiraku Adjusted Soymilk with Organic Soybeans, 65% Less Sugar/スジャータ　めいらく有機大豆使用　糖質65％オフ 調製豆乳. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or US) (not genetically modified), dietary fiber, sun-dried salt/calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), flavor, sweeteners (acesulfame potassium, sucralose).

Uses 100% organic soybeans. Contains calcium equivalent to milk (227 mg per 200 ml). Contains soybean-derived GABA. Photo from website.

The website states (from autotranslate):  “If you are allergic to soy (soy milk), please do not take it.
Even if you do not have allergic symptoms with other soy foods, there are very rare cases of onset. We recommend that you try a small amount when drinking for the first time.”

• Sujahta Meiraku Almond Soymilk Beverage with Organic Soybeans/スジャータ　めいらく有機大豆使用 アーモンド 豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (not genetically modified), sugar, dietary fiber, vegetable oil, almond paste, sun-dried salt/emulsifier, potassium chloride, thickening polysaccharide, flavor, vitamin E extract.

Product contains soybeans and almond.

Photo from website.

• Sujahta Meiraku Golden Sesame Soymilk Beverage with Organic Soybeans/有機大豆使用　金ごま　豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (not genetically modified), sugar, sesame paste, sun-dried salt/emulsifier, potassium chloride, caramel pigment, thickening polysaccharide, flavor.

• Sujahta Meiraku Hazelnut & Banana Soymilk Beverage with Organic Soybeans/有機大豆使用　ヘーゼルナッツ＆バナナ　豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), sugar, dietary fiber, rice oil, banana puree, hazelnut paste, sun-dried salt/emulsifier, potassium chloride, thickening polysaccharides, flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, carotene).

Product contains soybeans and bananas. 

Photo from website.

• Sujahta Meiraku Kinako Roasted Soybean Flour Soymilk Beverage with Organic Soybeans/スジャータ　めいらく有機大豆使用　きなこ　豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or America), sugar (brown sugar, sanontou sugar), vegetable oil, powdered starch syrup, organic roasted soybean flour, sun-dried salt/cellulose, emulsifier, flavoring, polysaccharide thickener.

Photo from website.

You might see an image of one of the following versions of older packaging when ordering online. The ingredient lists of both are the same and identical to the current version except they say “organic soybeans (not genetically modified)” instead of “organic soybeans (Canada or America).” 

   

Another very similar product that’s on the market as of April 2021 is shown below. 

Photo taken in a branch of 7-11 in April 2021. Uses kokutō sugar from Okinawa.

• Sujahta Roasted Soybean Flour Soymilk with Organic Soybeans/スジャータ　豆乳　きなこ with Organic Soybeans. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), sugar (50% Okinawan kokutō sugar), vegetable oil, powdered starch syrup, organic roasted soybean flour, sun-dried salt/cellulose, emulsifier, flavoring, polysaccharide thickener.

• Sujahta Meiraku Organic Adjusted Soymilk/スジャータ　めいらく 有機大豆使用　おいしい調製豆乳.  Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or USA) (not genetically modified), vegetable oil, sugar, salt/calcium carbonate, emulsifier, flavoring, calcium phosphate, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide).

Uses 100% organic soybeans. Contains calcium equivalent to milk (220 mg per 200 ml). Contains soybean-derived GABA. Photo from website.

The website states (from autotranslate):  “If you are allergic to soy (soy milk), please do not take it.
Even if you do not have allergic symptoms with other soy foods, there are very rare cases of onset. We recommend that you try a small amount when drinking for the first time.”

The following product contains 15 grams of soy protein. It isn’t clear what the source is of the vitamin B6 in the Cocoa flavor. 

• Sujahta Meiraku Soy Protein Cocoa Flavored/スジャータ　めいらく　SOY PROTEIN ココア味. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), sugar, vegetable protein, sun-dried salt, vegetable oil/flavoring, thickening polysaccharides, emulsifier, cacao pigment, iron pyrophosphate, sweeteners (acesulfame potassium, sucralose), vitamin B6.

Product contains soybeans. 

            

• Sujahta Meiraku Soy Protein Banana/スジャータ　めいらく　SOY PROTEIN バナナ. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (Canada or America) (not genetically modified), sugar, vegetable protein, banana puree, vegetable oil/cellulose, flavoring, coloring (safflower yellow, carotene), thickening polysaccharides, emulsifier, sweetener (sucralose).

   

• TopValu Adjusted Soymilk/トップバリュ　調整豆乳. Ingredients: Soybeans, sugars (sugar, starch syrup), vegetable oil, salt/emulsifier, flavoring.

The company has stated that although they don’t sell specifically vegan products, there are no animal ingredients in the product and that the emulsifier comes from palm oil.

According to the company’s customer service, the emulsifier in the following product uses palm-derived glycerin fatty acid ester. They also stated that right now, they are not selling any products as vegan. However, they stated that this product does not contain any animal products. 

• TopValu Slightly Sweet, Easy to Drink Soymilk/トップバリュほんのり甘く飲みやすい調整豆乳. Ingredients: Soybeans (Canada), sugars (sugar, starch syrup), vegetable oil, salt/emulsifier, flavor.

Photo from website. 

T’s Soy Milk is sold exclusively at Tully’s cafes. The maker is Fukuren. The emulsifier is reported to be of vegetable origin per information from customer service.

• T’s Soy Milk/T’s ソイミルク. Ingredients: Soybeans (America, not genetically modified), sanontou sugar, vegetable oil, salt/calcium lactate, emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, flavoring, stabilizing agent (carageenan).

Product contains soy.

   

Yakult soy beverages sometimes turn up in vending machines.

•  Yakult Rakkumi Banana Soymilk Drink/ヤクルト ラックミー バナナ. Ingredients: Soybeans (not genetically modified), high-fructose corn syrup, banana juice, salt, flavor, emulsifier, acidulant.

There is also a coffee flavor that occasionally turns up in stores.

•  Yakult Rakkumi Coffee Soymilk Drink/ヤクルト ラックミー コーヒー. Ingredients: Soybeans (not genetically modified), high-fructose corn syrup, coffee, salt, flavor, caramel pigment, emulsifier, sweetener (Stevia), vitamin E.

Photo from website.

ALMOND MILK

Almond milk in Japan is a bit harder to find than soymilk. As with the soymilk, it is unclear whether all the ingredients are plant-based. First we’ll list some of the almond milks which appear to possibly be free of animal ingredients, then move on to listing some that are not.

Canned Almond Breeze sometimes turns up in vending machines.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, dextrin, salt/phosphate (calcium, sodium), cellulose, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (xanthan), antioxidant (vitamin C), flavoring, vitamin E.

As of April 2021, there’s another canned version of Almond Breeze on the Pokka Sapporo website marked “new.” This one is vanilla-flavored:

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Slightly Sweetened/アーモンド・ブリーズ やさしい甘さのアーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), almond paste, dextrin, salt/phosphate (calcium, sodium), cellulose, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (xanthan), antioxidant (vitamin C), flavoring, vitamin E.

Product includes almonds. 

Photo from website. 

The following item has been replaced by a newer version in different packaging. You might still see this old product image when ordering online. 

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Almond & Coconut/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンド＆ココナッツ. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, edible coconut oil, salt/calcium lactate, cellulose, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), vitamin E, pH adjusting agent, flavoring.

Here is the newer version. The photo was taken April 2021 in a branch of MyBasket. 

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Almond & Coconut/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンド＆ココナッツ. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically manufactured), almond paste, edible coconut oil, salt/calcium lactate, cellulose, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), vitamin E, pH adjusting agent, flavoring.

Product contains almonds.

The following item has been replaced by a newer version in different packaging. You might still see this old product image when ordering online. 

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Coffee Taste/アーモンド・ブリーズ コーヒーテイスト. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, dextrin, malt extract, vegetable oil, instant coffee, salt/calcium lactate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, pH adjusting agent,stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), vitamin E, flavoring.

   

Here is the newer version.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Coffee Taste/アーモンド・ブリーズ コーヒーテイスト. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically manufactured), almond paste, dextrin, malt extract, vegetable oil, instant coffee, salt/calcium lactate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), vitamin E, flavoring.

Product contains almonds.

Photo from website.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Original/アーモンド・ブリーズ オリジナル. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, salt/calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (gellan), cellulose, vitamin E, flavoring.

Photo from website.

Also available in a 1L size. 

Photo from website. 

The previous version of this product in different packaging is shown below. You might still see this old product image when ordering online.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Original/アーモンド・ブリーズ オリジナル. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, vegetable oil, salt/calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), emulsifier, vitamin E, flavoring.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Unsweetened/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンドミルク 砂糖不使用．Ingredients: Almond paste (manufactured in America), dextrin, vegetable oil, salt/calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (gellan), cellulose, vitamin E.

Product contains almonds.

Also available in a 1L size. 

Photo from website.

The previous versions of this product in different packaging are shown below. You might still see these old product images when ordering online.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Unsweetened/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンドミルク 砂糖不使用．Ingredients: Almond paste, dextrin, vegetable oil, salt/calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (gellan), cellulose, vitamin E.

    

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Unsweetened/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンドミルク 砂糖不使用．Ingredients: Almond paste, dextrin, salt/calcium phosphate, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), potassium citrate, emulsifier, vitamin E.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Clear Taste/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンドミルク クリアテイスト. Ingredients: Sugar (domestically produced), almond paste, salt/emulsifier, antioxidant (vitamin C), stabilizing agent (xanthan), flavoring, cellulose, vitamin E.

Product includes almonds.

Photo from website. 

The Bridge La Famiglia Organic Bio Pure Almond milk from Italy can be found at nicer retail outlets such as Natural Lawson. It says “vegan,” “gluten-free” and “no sugar” on the package.

• The Bridge La Famiglia Organic Bio Pure Almond. Ingredient: Organic almonds.

This Create Almond Milk Latte is sometimes sold in some branches of Seijo Ishii supermarket. The package has a “plant-based” mark on it. Under the mark it says that plant-based means no animal ingredients are used at all in Japanese, 動物由来の原材料を一切使っておらず, doubutsu yurai no genzairyou wo issai tsukatte orazu. It also states in Japanese that only plant-derived ingredients are used in the product. Photos taken in April 2021. 

• Create Almond Milk Latte/クリエイト　アーモンドミルクラテ. Ingredients: Almond beverage (domestically manufactured), coffee, maple sugar, dextrin/emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, antioxidant (yamaimo extract).

Product contains almonds. 

       

• Glico Almond Effects – Coffee Flavor/Glicoアーモンド効果　香ばしコーヒ.　Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, dietary fiber (inulin), instant coffee, salt, processed almond oil, cellulose, calcium citrate, flavoring, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E, sweetener (acesulfame K, sucralose).

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

    

This product has recently been repackaged, and the ingredient list of the new version is different. The new version is shown below.

• Glico Almond Effects – Coffee Flavor/Glicoアーモンド効果　香ばしコーヒ.　Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, dietary fiber (inulin), coffee extract, salt, processed almond oil/flavoring, pH adjusting agent, cellulose, calcium citrate, emulsifier, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

   

• Glico Almond Effects Fragrant Chocolate/グリコ アーモンド効果 薫るカカオ. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, dietary fiber (inulin), cocoa powder, salt, processed almond oil/ thickener (processed starch), cellulose, calcium citrate, emulsifier, flavoring, pH adjusting agent, hesperidin, vitamin E, sweetener (sucralose, acesulfame potassium).

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

This product has recently changed packaging. The old packaging is shown first, and the new packaging is shown second.

   

• Glico Almond Effects – No Sugar/Glicoアーモンド効果砂糖不使用. Ingredients: Almond paste, dietary fiber (inulin), table salt, processed almond oil/cellulose, calcium citrate, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, flavoring, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E, sweetener (sucralose).

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

 

There is also a newer version of the same product that lacks the sucralose.

• Glico Almond Effects – No Sugar/Glicoアーモンド効果砂糖不使用. Ingredients: Almond paste, dietary fiber (inulin), table salt, processed almond oil/pH adjusting agent, cellulose, calcium citrate, emulsifier, flavoring, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

   

• Glico Almond Effects – No Sugar Coffee/Glico アーモンド効果 <砂糖不使用コーヒー>. Ingredients: Almond paste, dietary fiber (inulin), dextrin, instant coffee, vegetable oil, salt, processed almond oil/cellulose, thickener (modified starch), calcium citrate, flavor, emulsifier, pH adjusting agent, coloring agent (caramel), vitamin E, sweetener (sucralose)

Photo from website.

• Glico Almond Effects – Salted Almond/Glico アーモンド効果 <ソルティアーモンド>. Ingredients: Almond paste, dietary fiber (inulin), salt, processed almond oil/pH stabilizing agent, cellulose, calcium citrate, emulsifier, flavoring, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

Contains none of the 27 allergens.

Limited-edition flavor.

   

• Glico Almond Effects Tasty Coffee Almond Milk/アーモンド効果 TASTY Coffee Almondmilk. Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, dextrin, coffee dietary fiber (inulin, polydextrose), high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil, salt, processed almond oil product/cellulose, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, flavor, antioxidant (vitamin C), thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

Photo from website.

• Glico Almond Effects Tasty Creamy Almond Milk/アーモンド効果 TASTY Creamy Almondmilk. Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, dextrin, dietary fiber (inulin), high-fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil, salt, processedalmond oil product/cellulose, pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, flavor, antioxidant (vitamin C), thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

Photo from website.

Bio C’ Bon supermarkets sell imported Isola Bio non-dairy milks.

The Isola Bio Almond Drink and Isola Bio Almond Milk, Sugar Free are marked “for vegans” on the Isola Bio website (English).

• Isola Bio Almond Drink. Ingredients: Water, almonds* (5%), agave syrup, sea salt. (*= organic)

May contain traces of other nuts.
For celiacs. For lactose- and milk-protein intolerance.

Online purchase link: Bio c’ Bon

Photo from the Bio c’ Bon website. 

• Isola Bio Almond Milk, Sugar Free. Ingredients: Water, Italian almonds* (5%), sea salt. (*= organic)

May contain traces of other nuts.

Online purchase link: Bio c’ Bon 

Photo from the Bio c’ Bon website.

The following product was newly released as of early 2021 and was found in a Gyomu Supa supermarket branch in Kyushu. “Kyushu Dairy” is the name of the company and does not indicate that there is dairy milk or dairy components in the product.  It says 乳成分不使用/chichiseibun fushiyou/milk ingredients not used on the front of the package. The product page indicates it is free of the 28 allergenic substances, of course with the exception of almonds.

• Kyushu Dairy Almond Milk/九州乳業  アーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Almond paste, starch syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, salt/cellulose, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), pH adjusting agent, vitamin E.

   

Contains almonds.

Mand’or Almond Drink Mandorla Classico and Mandorla Light & Calcio, imported from Italy, were found in a branch of Seijo Ishii grocery store. Both say “100% Vegetale,” meaning “100% Vegetable,” on the front of the package. Sucrestere, the emulsifier in the Classico product, appears to be a brand name of an emulsifier consisting of sucrose and vegetable oils and no animal materials.

• Mand’or Almond Drink Mandorla Classico. Ingredients: Water, sugar, almonds (8%), emulsifier: sucrestere, natural flavors.

• Mand’or Almond Drink Mandorla Light & Calcio. Ingredients: Water, cane sugar, roasted almonds (4%), calcium carbonate (0.3%), locust bean gum, natural flavors.

The package of the Light & Calcio version states that “one portion contain 30% of calcium according to RI.”

   

• Marusan Everyday Delicious Roasted Almond Milk, No Sugar Added/マルサン　毎日おいしいローストアーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Almond paste, dietary fiber (polydextrose), edible almond oil, salt, processed almond extract, processed almond oil/cellulose, emulsifier, flavoring, pH adjusting agent, vitamin E, stabilizing agent (gellan), sweetener (sucralose).

   

All varieties of 137 degrees milk listed here say suitable for vegans and lactose intolerant, no soy content, dairy free, carrageenan free, gluten-free, and low sodium on the package. They have been found at Natural Lawson and Peacock stores. There are almond, walnut, and pistachio varieties.

• 137 degrees Almond Milk/137ディグリーズ　アーモンドミルク　オリジナル. Ingredients: Almond milk, sunflower seeds, coconut flower nectar.

• 137 degrees Iced Coffee Latte/137ディグリーズ　アーモンドミルク　ラテ. Ingredients: Fresh almond milk 75% (from whole almonds grown in California, USA), espresso shot 20%, organic coconut flower nectar 5%.

Processed at 137 degrees for several seconds to preserve as much nutrition as possible and keep the beverage fresh. Sweetened with organic coconut nectar produced locally and sustainably in Thailand to help revitalize farming communities.

   

This drink was found in a branch of Family Mart in September 2020. Note that euglena is considered to be neither a plant nor an animal, but a single-celled protist.

• Pokka Sapporo Almond Breeze Almond Milk and Euglena/W ドブルサポート アーモンドミルク & ユーグレナ. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, dextrin, vegetable oil, salt, Euglena gracilis powder, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (gellan), flavoring, vitamin E.

   

Sujahta Meiraku makes a crossover almond-soymilk beverage.

• Sujahta Meiraku Almond Soymilk Drink with Organic Soybeans/スジャータ　めいらく有機大豆使用 アーモンド 豆乳飲料. Ingredients: Organic soybeans (not genetically modified), sugar, dietary fiber, vegetable oil, almond paste, sun-dried salt/emulsifier, potassium chloride, thickening polysaccharide, flavor, vitamin E extract.

Product contains soybeans and almond.

Photo from website.

Tsukuba Thick Almond Milk can be found in health food stores and some branches of Natural Lawson convenience stores (not regular Lawson).

• Tsukuba Thick Almond Milk, Plain (no sugar)/ツクバ濃いアーモンドミルク まろやかプレーンー　砂糖不使用. Ingredients: Almonds (from U.S.A.), pH adjusting agent, thickener (gellan).

• Tsukuba Thick Almond Milk, Aromatic Roasted (no sugar) /ツクバ濃いアーモンドミルク～香りばさしのローストー　砂糖不使用. Ingredients: Almonds (from U.S.A.), pH adjusting agent, thickener (gellan).

• Tsukuba Thick Almond Milk, Lightly Flavored with Brown Sugar/ ツクバ濃いアーモンドミルク～ほんのりの黒糖入り～. Ingredients: Almonds (from U.S.A.), powdered syrup, brown sugar. Additives: pH adjusting agent, emulsifier, thickener (gellan).

All three varieties are also available in a 1L size on Amazon Japan (English), Plain (no sugar) , Aromatic Roasted Fragrance (no sugar), and  Lightly Flavored with Brown Sugar.

There are also more varieties available directly on the Tsukuba Dairy page.

   

Now let’s look at a few items that contain animal ingredients.

• Glico Almond Effects TASTY Almond & Walnut/グリコ　アーモンド効果テイスティAlmond & Walnut is not vegan as it has honey, ハチミツ/hachimitsu.

   

The three Glico almond milks below are not vegan as they all contain honey:

• Glico Almond Effects/Glico アーモンド効果. Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, dietary fiber (inulin), dextrin, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, salt, vegetable oil, processed almond oil, cellulose, calcium citrate, pH adjusting agent, flavoring, emulsifier, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E, sweeteners (thaumatin, sucralose).

    

• Glico Almond Effects Original/Glico アーモンド効果 オリジナル. Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, dietary fiber (inulin), dextrin, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, vegetable oil, salt, processed almond oil/pH adjusting agent, flavoring, cellulose, calcium citrate, emulsifier, thickener (xanthan gum), vitamin E.

   

• Glico Almond Effects Three-Nut/Glico アーモンド効果３の種ナツ.

The old packaging is shown on the left, and the new packaging is shown on the right.

   

The old version of Topvalu Almond Milk/トップバリュ　アーモンドミルク (Aeon house brand) was confirmed NOT to be vegan. It’s been reported variously that customer service said it contains a pork-based emulsifier, and by the blog Vegana no Japão (now defunct), that customer service said it had pork and dairy not in the emulsifier, but in some other part of the ingredients. It was sold in three varieties, sweetened, unsweetened, and Cafe Chocolate, shown from left to right below. The sweetened variety also contained honey (はちみつ). Some information courtesy of Vegana no Japão.

However, as of mid-2021, these products appear to have been replaced by new versions. The Vegana No Japao Facebook page reported in July 2021 that they contacted customer service and were told that this almond milk contains nothing of animal origin. 

• TopValu Almond Milk/TopValu　アーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Almond paste (domestically produced), starch syrup, dietary fiber (polydextrose), fructose, sugar, salt, sunflower oil, [Additives] emulsifier, flavoring, pH adjusting agent, stabilizing agent (gellan gum), vitamin E. 

Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains almonds.

Photo from website. 

Now let’s look at some of the types of non-dairy milk that are more rarely found in mainstream stores in Japan.

BARLEY MILK

Bio C’ Bon and Aeon supermarkets sell imported Isola Bio non-dairy milks.

The Isola Bio Barley Original Drink is marked “for vegans” on the Isola Bio website (English).

• Isola Bio Barley Original Drink/Isola Bioオガーニックバーリー(大麦)ミルク. Ingredients: Water, Italian barley* (17%), cold-pressed sunflower oil*, sea salt. (*=organic).

Online purchase link: Bio c’ Bon

Photo from website.

COCONUT MILK

Coconut milk drinks produced in Japan generally have dairy added. It might not be worth wasting time searching for one that does not. Here are a few that we have found that do not list dairy as an ingredient.

• Almond Breeze Almond Milk, Almond & Coconut/アーモンド・ブリーズ アーモンド＆ココナッツ. Ingredients: Sugar, almond paste, edible coconut oil, salt/calcium lactate, cellulose, potassium citrate, emulsifier, stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), vitamin E, pH adjusting agent, flavoring.

Here is an example of a coconut milk beverage produced in Japan that is not vegan because it has dairy added.

Bourbon Oishii Coconut Milk Almond Taste/Bourbon おいしいココナッツミルクアーモンド味. Ingredients: 砂糖、ココナッツミルク粉末、アーモンド粉末、食塩、デキストリン、乳化剤、香料(乳由来)、セルロース、カゼインNa(乳由来)、安定剤(キサンタン)、甘味料(アセスルファムK)酸化防止剤(抽出VE)

香料(乳由来) is flavoring (dairy-derived) and カゼインNa(乳由来) is sodium caseinate (dairy-derived).

This Family Mart Tapioca Coconut Milk drink, manufactured by Elbee, is also not vegan as it has collagen peptides/コラーゲンペプチド/corāgen pepuchido, defatted powdered milk/脱脂粉乳/dasshifun’nyū, sodium caseinate/カゼインナトリウム/kazein’natoriumu, squid ink/イカ墨/ikasumi (as a colorant), and shellfish calcium/貝カルシウム/kai karushiumu.

   

Import brands may be a better bet. Here are some imported coconut milk drinks that you may find in stores.

Gyomu Supa had made-in-Vietnam Coco Xim Coconut Milk, marked vegan-friendly in English on the package, in June 2021. 

The package says it can be used in coffee but the consistency is quite thick. It probably isn’t meant to be used to make a latte as-is but instead, used similarly to creamer by adding just a small amount. It can also be used for cooking, according to the package. 

• Coco Xim Coconut Milk. Ingredients: Coconut, stabilizing agent (xanthan). 

This product does not contain any of the allergenic substances that are required or recommended to be labeled.

       

Malee Coconut Milk Drink with Coconut Water, imported from Thailand, says “suitable for vegans” on the back of the package.

• Malee Coconut Milk Drink with Coconut Water.

Photo from website.

Gyomu Supa sometimes has Thai Coco coconut almond milk/beverage. 

The photos of the Coconut Almond flavor were taken in 2019.

• Thai Coco Coconut Almond/ココナッツアーモンドミルク. Ingredients: Coconut water, coconut milk, almond paste, salt/emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavor, sweetener (Acesulfame K, stevia).

Made in Thailand.

   

• Thai Coco Coconut Sesame/ココナッツセサミミルク. Ingredients: Coconut water, coconut milk, black sesame paste, salt/emulsifier, stabilizing agent (polysaccharide thickener), flavor, sweetener (Acesulfame K, stevia).

Product contains sesame.

Made in Thailand.

Photos taken in 2020. 

   

MACADAMIA NUT MILK

The front of the package on these Kikkoman Macadamia Milk products reads “cow’s milk and soymilk not used/牛乳・豆乳不使用/gyūnyū tōnyū fushiyou.”

Kikkoman has stated that they do use bone-char processed sugar in their soymilk drinks, so the same may be true for these macadamia milk drinks.

Under pressure from PETA, Kikkoman agreed to stop animal testing as of 2015, except when accountable to public safety or to comply with the demands of government authorities.

Their animal testing policy is here (English).

•  Kikkoman Macadamia Milk, No Sugar/キッコマン　マカダミアミルク 砂糖　不使用. Ingredients: Macadamia nut paste (macadamia nuts (Australia)), water-soluble dietary fiber, rice oil, sun-dried salt, agar/emulsifier, thickener (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), pH adjusting agent, flavoring, vitamin E.

Photo from website.

•  Kikkoman Macadamia Milk, Original/キッコマン　マカダミアミルク　オリジナル. Ingredients: Macadamia nut paste (macadamia nuts (Australia)), sugar, water-soluble dietary fiber, rice oil, sun-dried salt, agar/emulsifier, thickener (cellulose, polysaccharide thickener), pH adjusting agent, flavoring, vitamin E.

   

OAT MILK/OAT BEVERAGES

Some Aeon supermarkets began stocking Alpro in 2019.

Like the Alpro Soya Unsweetened, both Alpro Oat and Alpro Oat Unsweetened contain 120 mg of calcium and 0.38 µg of vitamin B12 per 100ml.

Alpro Oat is slighly sweetened with naturally occurring sugars. It does not have added sugars.

•  Alpro Oat. Ingredients: Oat base (Water, Oat (9.8%)), Chicory root fibre, Sunflower oil, Calcium (Tri-calcium phosphate), Sea salt, Stabiliser (Gellan gum), Vitamins (B2, B12, D2)

Although the ingredient list appears a little different, it’s possible that is just due to quirks of labeling laws and the product shown below may be identical to the one above.

• Alpro Oat Original/アルプロ　たっぷり食物繊維 オーツミルク. Ingredients: Oats, dietary fiber, sunflower oil, salt/calcium phosphate, thickener (gellan gum), vitamin B2, vitamin D2, vitamin B12.

The large package states that apple and banana are handled on the same production line and that wheat and soba (buckwheat) are processed on shared equipment. 

First two photos taken in May 2021.

                

Alpro Oat Unsweetened has no added sugars and no sweeteners.

•  Alpro Oat Unsweetened. Oat base (Water, Oat (8.7%)), Chicory root fibre, Sunflower oil, Calcium (Calcium carbonate), Sea salt, Stabiliser (Gellan gum), Vitamins (B2, B12, D2).

The same goes for another package of Alpro Oat Unsweetened. Although the Japanese-language ingredient list appears a little different, it’s possible that is just due to quirks of labeling laws and the product shown below may be identical to the one above.

• Alpro Oat Unsweetened/アルプロ　たっぷり食物繊維 オーツミルク　砂糖不使用. Ingredients: Oats, dietary fiber, sunflower oil, salt/calcium carbonate, thickener (gellan gum), vitamin B2, vitamin D2, vitamin B12.

The large package states that apple and banana are handled on the same production line and that wheat and soba (buckwheat) are processed on shared equipment. 

First two photos taken in May 2021. Third photo (of the 250ml package) taken in August 2021. 

       

The following series of products is from Coca-Cola and according to their press/news release, was launched 3/29/2021 in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Niigata, Aichi, Gifu, and Mie. Photos taken in a branch of 7-11 convenience store in April 2021.

•  Go Good Oatmilk, Oat Cafe Latte/GO:GOOD おいしいオーツ麦ミルク オーツカフェラテ. Ingredients: Oat concentrate (domestically produced), coffee, sugar, sunflower oil, salt/flavoring, emulsifier, phosphate (potassium, calcium), cellulose, stabilizing agent (gellan gum, carrageenan).

   

•  Go Good Oatmilk, Smooth Plain/GO:GOOD おいしいオーツ麦ミルク なめらかプレーン. Ingredients: Oat concentrate (domestically produced), oat extract powder, sunflower oil, dietary fiber (inulin), salt/emulsifier, phosphate (potassium, calcium), stabilizing agent (gellan gum).

   

•  Go Good Oatmilk, Strong/GO:GOOD おいしいオーツ麦ミルク こっくり濃いめ. Ingredients: Oat concentrate (domestically produced), oat extract powder, sunflower oil, salt/emulsifier, phosphate (potassium, calcium), stabilizing agent (gellan gum).

Photo from website. 

The photos of the Marusan Oat Milk were taken in May 2021. The Marusan website’s product page recommends drinking it as-is or mixing with coffee. 

• Marusan Oat Milk/オーツミルク. Ingredients: Saccharified oat liquid (manufactured in Japan), oat flour, salt/stabilizing agent (thickening polysaccharide), pH adjusting agent, flavoring.

This product does not contain any of the allergenic substances that are required or recommended to be labeled.

The oats used in this product use shared harvesting equipment, etc. with wheat. 

   

PISTACHIO MILK

All varieties of 137 degrees milk listed here say suitable for vegans and lactose intolerant, no soy content, dairy free, carrageenan free, gluten-free, and low sodium on the package. They have been found at Natural Lawson and Peacock stores. There are almond, walnut, and pistachio varieties.

• 137 degrees Double Belgian Chocolate with Pistachio Milk/137ディグリーズ　ベルギーチョコピスタチオミルク. Ingredients: Fresh pistachio milk 60% (from whole pistachios), , cashew blend 36%, cocoa from Belgium 2%, organic coconut flower nectar 2%.

• 137 degrees Pistachio Milk/137ディグリーズ　ピスタチオミルク　オリジナル. Ingredients: Pistachio milk, cashew nut milk, sunflower seeds, coconut flower nectar.

Processed at 137 degrees for several seconds to preserve as much nutrition as possible and keep the beverage fresh. Sweetened with organic coconut nectar produced locally and sustainably in Thailand to help revitalize farming communities.

   

RICE MILK

Bio C’ Bon and Aeon supermarkets sell imported Isola Bio non-dairy milks.

The Isola Bio Rice Calcium Drink and Rice Hazelnut Drink are marked “for vegans” on the Isola Bio website (English). The Isola Bio Rice Original Drink is marked “for vegetarians” and “plant-based” on the Isola Bio website (English), but for some reason, not “for vegans.” The Japan Bio c’ Bon website has it tagged as vegan, though. 

The Bio Rice Calcium Drink was found in a branch of Peacock, an Aeon-affliated grocery store. You may be able to find it at other Aeon-affiliated stores.

•  Isola Bio Rice Calcium Drink/Isola Bio オガーニックライス&カルシウムミルク. Ingredients:

Water, Italian rice* (17%), cold-pressed sunflower oil*, seaweed Lithothamnium Calcareum (0,4%),  sea salt. (*=organic)

For celiacs. For lactose- and milk-protein intolerance.

Photos taken in May 2021. 

Online purchase link: Bio C’ Bon 

   

• Isola Bio Rice Hazelnut Drink/Isola Bio オガーニックライスミルク ヘーゼルナッツ味.　Ingredients: Water, rice* (17%), hazelnuts* (3%), sea salt. (*= organic).

May contain traces of other nuts.

Photo from the Bio c’ Bon website. 

• Isola Bio Rice Original Drink. Ingredients: Water, Italian rice* (17%), cold-pressed sunflower oil*, sea salt. (*=organic)

For celiacs. For lactose- and milk-protein intolerance.

Online purchase link: Bio c’ Bon

Photo from the Isola Bio website. 

SESAME MILK

Busco sesame milk was launched in April 2020 and is made by Busco Foods, a Japanese company. The original version of the product was available at Aeon and was clearly marked vegan on the Busco website. However, it is now available for direct purchase online rather than in stores and just says “dairy free” on the package. Some information about the product can be found in English at Market Shake by GourmetPro in the article Beyond Milk #1: The World VS Japan: Are we going nuts over milk? As it doesn’t contain added sugar, it can also be used in cooking. 

• Busco Sesamilk White Sesame Milk Unsweetened/白ごまミルク 無糖1L. Ingredients: White sesame, polydextrose / emulsifier, sodium citrate, stabilizer (gellan gum), antioxidant (vitamin E).

Of the 28 specified allergens, product contains sesame.

Made in Thailand.

Online purchase link: Busco website

Photo from website.

WALNUT MILK

All varieties of 137 degrees milk listed here say suitable for vegans and lactose intolerant, no soy content, dairy free, carrageenan free, gluten-free, and low sodium on the package. They have been found at Natural Lawson and Peacock stores. There are almond, walnut, and pistachio varieties.

• 137 degrees Matcha Green Tea Latte/137ディグリーズ　ウォールナッツ抹茶ラテ. Ingredients: Walnut milk, sunflower seeds, matcha, coconut flower nectar.

• 137 degrees Walnut Milk/137ディグリーズ　ウォールナッツミルクオリジナル. Ingredients: Walnut milk, sunflower seeds, coconut flower nectar.

Processed at 137 degrees for several seconds to preserve as much nutrition as possible and keep the beverage fresh. Sweetened with organic coconut nectar produced locally and sustainably in Thailand to help revitalize farming communities.

   

FLAVORED DRINK POWDER

These flavored drink mixes from Marukome can be mixed with non-dairy milk instead of cow’s milk. They can be purchased on Amazon Japan. No cow’s milk is listed as an ingredient in the actual product.

• Marukome Soybean Laboratories Banana Flavored Powder To Mix with Milk/ダイズラボ 牛乳にまぜる大豆パウダー バナナ風味. Ingredients: Soybean powder (manufactured domestically), sugar, banana powder, vegetable oil, salt, starch/silicon oxide, flavoring, coloring (gardenia), emulsifier.

Product includes soybeans and banana.

Photo from website.

• Marukome Soybean Laboratories Strawberry Flavored Powder To Mix with Milk/ダイズラボ 牛乳にまぜる大豆パウダー いちご風味. Ingredients: Soybean powder (manufactured domestically), sugar, strawberry juice powder, starch, vegetable oil, salt/silicon oxide, flavoring, acidulant, colorant (Monascus purpureus, berry pigment), emulsifier.

Product contains soybeans.

Photo from website.

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