Toei Shinyaku’s Outdoor-Cultivated Agaricus blazei (Himematsutake) KA21 Strain Receives the Excellent Award at the Japan Society of Anti-Aging Medicine’s Anti-Aging Contribution Awards**

Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd.(Head Office: Mitaka, Tokyo; President & CEO: Akitomo Motoi)

On December 6, 2025, Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd. presented the advantages and scientific evidence of its outdoor-cultivated Agaricus blazei / brasiliensis / subrufescens (Himematsutake) KA21 strain (= King Agaricus KA21) at the Scientific Forum of the Japan Society of Anti-Aging Medicine. Following a comprehensive final evaluation, KA21 was awarded the Excellent Award at the 1st Sunny Health Anti-Aging Contribution Awards.

Presentation of the Advantages and Scientific Evidence of King Agaricus KA21 at the Scientific Forum

At the final review session held during the 9th Scientific Forum of the Japan Society of Anti-Aging Medicine on December 6, 2025, Toei Shinyaku delivered the following presentation on King Agaricus KA21:

■Advantages of Outdoor-Cultivated King Agaricus KA21

Compared with conventionally cultivated indoor (greenhouse-grown) Agaricus mushrooms, outdoor-cultivated King Agaricus KA21 was shown to:

●Contain higher levels of key active components, including β-glucan and vitamin D*

●Exhibit more than five-fold higher antioxidant activity **

■Extensive Scientific Evidence, Including Human Clinical Data

Agaricus KA21 is supported by a substantial body of scientific evidence, including data from human clinical studies.

These characteristics and scientific findings were comprehensively evaluated during the final review process, resulting in King Agaricus KA21 receiving the Excellent Award at the 1st Sunny Health Anti-Aging Contribution Awards.

*Analysis conducted by the Japan Food Research Laboratories

**Int. J. Med. Mushrooms 22(1):31-43, 2020

Finalist of the Anti-Aging Contribution Award

About the 1st Sunny Health Anti-Aging Contribution Awards

The Sunny Health Anti-Aging Contribution Awards were established to identify and promote ingredients and materials that demonstrate significant potential in the areas of health, beauty, and longevity, with the aim of contributing to the extension of healthy life expectancy in Japan.

●Organizer: Japan Society of Anti-Aging Medicine

●Sponsor: Sunny Health Co., Ltd.

■About Agaricus blazei / brasiliensis / subrufescens (Himematsutake)

Agaricus blazei (Himematsutake) is a mushroom native to Brazil, South America, and is widely used as a health food and dietary supplement in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Its characteristics and constituent components vary depending on the strain, cultivation conditions, and place of origin.As a result, there are significant differences in quality among Agaricus-containing products.

■Outdoor-Cultivated "King Agaricus KA21" by Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

Outdoor-cultivated Agaricus blazei KA21 is grown in the natural environment of Brazil, the native region of Agaricus, using the King Agaricus 21 (KA21) strain. 

Cultivated outdoors under natural sunlight, this Agaricus differs significantly from conventional indoor (greenhouse-grown) Agaricus cultivated in dark environments.

Compared with standard indoor-grown Agaricus, KA21 is characterized by:

●Larger and more robust mushroom size

●Higher levels of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals

Outdoor-Cultivated King Agaricus KA21

Differences in Agaricus Mushroom Size

Left: Indoor-Cultivated Agaricus, Right: Outdor-cultivated Agaricus

Content of the Key Active Component, β-Glucan

Differences in Vitamin and Mineral Content

Differences in Antioxidant Activity

■About Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd., the developer and manufacturer of the KA21 strain, has conducted more than 29 years of research and development on King Agaricus KA21.The company has an extensive research track record, including 34 international scientific publications—among the highest in the Agaricus industry—as well as five domestic patents in Japan and two U.S. patents.

Toei Shinyaku has also collaborated with leading academic and research institutions, including the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Azabu University, Keio University SFC Research Institute, the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, the Faculty of Medicine at Juntendo University, the University of Tokyo Food Safety Research Center, the Department of Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, and Harvard University (USA).

Through these collaborations, the company has published a wide range of valuable scientific data, including results from human clinical studies.

■Company Information

Company Name: Toei Shinyaku Co., Ltd.

Website: https://toeishinyaku.com/

Global Website: https://www.agaricus.co.jp/

Head Office:1-11-23 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka-shi,Tokyo 181-0013, Japan

Representative: Akitomo Motoi, President & CEO

Capital: JPY 10,000,000