MUROTO, Kochi Pref. -- At first glance, it is hard to see what the following products have in common: bottled water, miso paste, bread, snacks and skin lotion.
The answer is that they are part of a legion of nearly 40 products that contain seawater taken from a depth of 374 meters in the ocean off the Muroto Peninsula, on the southeastern tip of Kochi Prefecture.
Products containing deep seawater have become something of a hit in the last few years, as the liquid is touted for its purity and high mineral content.