Apr 13, 2025 (News On Japan) - Japan’s deep-rooted love for tuna, one of the world’s most consumed fish in the country, is entering a new phase—powered by artificial intelligence.
On April 9th, a consortium led by Fujitsu and SonoPhi unveiled the world’s first AI-based device for evaluating the fat content of tuna. The machine, called the SonoPhi T-01, uses ultrasound technology to measure internal data from the fish and analyzes it through AI to determine fat levels—an essential indicator of tuna quality.
Traditionally, the task of assessing tuna fat has been left to the trained eyes of seasoned professionals who rely on a method known as tail-cut grading, where a cross-section of the tail is examined. This sensory-based skill has long been considered the gold standard, developed over years of experience.
So why is there now a push for machines to do what master graders have done for generations?
Japan, a leading global consumer of tuna, is facing an aging workforce in the seafood industry, with fewer young people taking up the trade. The new technology aims to supplement this labor gap and offer a more objective, standardized method of evaluating quality. By digitizing the grading process, companies hope to maintain consistency and meet the growing demands of both domestic and international markets.
The device may not completely replace human expertise, but it signals a turning point in the intersection of tradition and technology in one of Japan’s most iconic foods.
Source: YOMIURI
