A raw ham labeled “wakeari” (a Japanese shopping label for items sold with a stated reason) is easy to choose without knowing what the reason is, how to handle it after it arrives frozen, or what is in the ingredients. This article covers the Raw Ham Off-cuts (生ハム切り落とし) 500 g sold by ハイ食材室 on Rakuten Ichiba. We organized the publicly available product information and the review-site entries into five points: amount, shelf life, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Amount and a guide to the number of servings
- Storage method and shelf life
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the product page. However, the “not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product Name | 生ハム切り落とし 【500g】【冷凍/冷蔵可】 訳あり (Wakeari Raw Ham Off-cuts, 500 g, frozen or chilled accepted)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page (the product name is shown without the shop notice at its start) |
|---|---|
| Name | Raw ham (生ハム)Source: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Reason for Wakeari | That it is made of off-cuts (irregular shapes). We did not find any statement giving quality or a short best-before date as the reasonSource: product name and product description images on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Amount | 500 g (1 bag)Source: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| What Changes Depending on Your Choice | The product name says “冷凍/冷蔵可” (frozen or chilled accepted), and the shipping method is also shown as “冷凍/冷蔵可”. How to choose on the purchase screen: Not confirmedSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Storage Method | Store frozenSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Best-Before Date | About half a year after delivery, unopenedSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Country of Origin of Ingredients | Pork leg (豚モモ肉): Canada or MexicoSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (ingredient field) |
| Processing Location | Stated as made in Japan (国内製造). The prefecture is Not confirmedSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Condition / How to Eat (Cooking Required?) | We did not find on the product page any guidance on whether it is eaten without heating or is for cooking: Not confirmedSource: product description and product description images on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Thawing Method | According to the shop, the raw ham arrives half-thawed, and it can be frozen in small portions even when it is in one lump. The thawing method and how long it keeps after thawing are Not confirmedSource: product description images on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Shipping | Yamato Transport’s Cool TA-Q-BIN. Ships within 2 to 3 days of the order (excluding the shop’s holidays)Source: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Manufacturer | Not confirmedSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (the manufacturer field says “国内製造” (made in Japan) and gives no company name) |
| Shop | ハイ食材室 (Rakuten Ichiba). The seller field in the product description is DRESSTABLE Inc. (Tokyo) |
Prices are not listed here because they change. Please check the current price and stock availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The ingredient field of the product page states the following.
Pork leg (Canada or Mexico), salt, sugar, spices, seasoning (amino acids), phosphate (Na), pH adjuster, antioxidant (vitamin C), color fixative (sodium nitrite), yucca extract, preservative (polylysine), spice extractSource: product description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 15, 2026)
Food additives such as the color fixative (sodium nitrite) and the preservative (polylysine) are included in the ingredients. For allergen labeling, we did not find a dedicated statement on the product page, so this item is Not confirmed. The ingredient field lists pork leg.
If you have an allergy, ask the seller before buying, and be sure to check the label on the product when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 15, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| What to Check | For This Product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount and servings | 500 g (1 bag). The number of servings is Not confirmed | Product description on the product page. The number of servings is not stated |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Store frozen. The best-before date is about half a year after delivery, unopened. How long it keeps after thawing is Not confirmed | Product description on the product page |
| 3. Ingredients and allergen labeling | The pork leg is from Canada or Mexico, and it is made in Japan. It contains a color fixative (sodium nitrite) and a preservative (polylysine). Allergen labeling is Not confirmed | Ingredient field of the product page. We did not find a dedicated allergen statement |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | We could not confirm any statement on noshi, wrapping or message cards. Because it arrives frozen, you need to check that the recipient can receive it | We could not confirm any statement on gift support on the product page |
| 5. Review trends | The Rakuten Ichiba rating is 4.38 / 5 (3,261 reviews). The trends are summarized in the “What Public Reviews Say” section (Rakuten customer reviews; within the 118 reviews we read in total, from the default order and the 1★ and 2★ filters, and they may not reflect the product’s current condition) | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 15, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
On the product page, we could not confirm support for noshi (a Japanese gift-wrapping label), wrapping or message cards (viewed October 15, 2026). If you are considering it as a gift, checking the following 3 points with the seller before buying makes a mix-up less likely.
- Whether noshi and wrapping are supported (not stated on the product page)
- Because it arrives frozen (the page says it arrives half-thawed), whether you can specify a date and time the recipient can receive it
- Whether the recipient has room in their freezer for 500 g
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the Rakuten Ichiba product reviews by point. Rating figures are as of the viewing date and change afterward.
| Site | Rating | Number of Reviews | Date Accessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.38 / 5 | 3,261 | October 15, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,987 / 4★ 822 / 3★ 255 / 2★ 100 / 1★ 97 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 15, 2026)
What we read: the first 58 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted November 2024 to October 2026; latest October 2026), 30 reviews filtered to 1★ (posted January 2016 to June 2026) and 30 reviews filtered to 2★ (posted June 2015 to December 2025), 118 in total. Of the reviews in the 1★ and 2★ filters, 3 were posted on or after October 15, 2024. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Saltiness
10 of the 58 reviews in the default order said they found the saltiness mild or just right. Some also described it as easy to eat as it is, or as working in a variety of dishes.
Satisfaction with the price
23 of the 58 reviews in the default order mentioned the price favorably. This includes posts saying they bought it during a sale.
A wide range of uses
At least 8 of the 58 reviews in the default order said they used it on salads, bread, pizza and the like.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (accessed October 15, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Frozen as one lump, so dividing it takes effort
5 of the 58 reviews in the default order said that because the 500 g is frozen as one lump, dividing it into portions took effort. All of them were posted within the last 2 years.
How to check: the state on arrival and the shop’s guidance on dividing it are summarized in the “Thawing Method” row of “Basic Information” in this article.
The trimmings are small
20 of the 60 reviews rated 1★ or 2★ said there were many small trimmings or crumb-like pieces. None of these 20 was posted within the last 2 years (since October 15, 2024).
Preferences about texture and smokiness
7 of the 60 reviews rated 1★ or 2★ (2 of them within the last 2 years) said the texture felt like Japanese-style ham, or that the taste, such as the smokiness, did not suit their preference.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (accessed October 15, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- People who do not mind the irregular shapes of off-cuts (the shop gives this as the reason for the wakeari label)
- People who can divide the 500 g that arrives half-thawed into portions and freeze it again themselves
- People who want to use it in dishes such as salads, bread and pizza
- People who have room in the freezer for 500 g
Who Should Be Careful
- People with allergies (the labeling is not confirmed, so you need to check before buying)
- People who want to check in the ingredient field that it contains a color fixative (sodium nitrite) and a preservative (polylysine) before choosing
- People who want a product that gives guidance on whether heating is needed and how long it keeps after thawing (for this product, Not confirmed)
- People who want to use it as a gift on the premise of noshi and wrapping
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 15, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- 500 g (1 bag), stored frozen. The best-before date is stated as about half a year after delivery, unopened. The page says it arrives half-thawed and can be frozen in small portions
- The reason for the wakeari label is that it is off-cuts (irregular shapes). The pork leg is from Canada or Mexico, and it is made in Japan. It contains a color fixative (sodium nitrite) and a preservative (polylysine)
- Whether heating is needed, how long it keeps after thawing, the manufacturer’s name and allergen labeling could not be confirmed on the product page. If you have an allergy, ask the seller before buying
Related Pages
This article summarizes information publicly available on retail sites and review sites. Product details such as amount, storage method, and ingredients are subject to change. Please check the seller’s listing for the most current information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 15, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “ハイ食材室” product page, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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