NATTO CHOCOLATE - The Story of Natto Chocolate's Birth

Natto Chocolate was born from one person's "passion for natto."

Our parent company, Marukin Shokuhin Co., Ltd., is a food manufacturer in Kumamoto celebrating its 111th anniversary this year. Since its establishment, it has supported Japanese dinner tables through traditional Japanese foods.

Fusako Kira, the current representative director, inherited the business from her great-grandparents. During her 20 years in America, she witnessed the deep connection between food culture and health. This experience inspired her to think, "I want more people around the world to know about and try natto and konnyaku, which Japan is proud of." Furthermore, she wanted to contribute to the health of people worldwide not just by selling products, but by spreading the idea that "health is a choice." She continued to search for ways to achieve this.

Amidst this, the Kumamoto Earthquake struck in 2016. The company and factory were damaged, and a large quantity of natto, tofu, and konnyaku waiting for shipment were left inside the factory. We consulted with local authorities about delivering these to those affected, but for unexpected reasons, they could not be accepted: There was no electricity for refrigeration. There were no chopsticks or other utensils, so they couldn't be eaten immediately.

That experience was the catalyst for the birth of B-GENKI. "Could we create natto and konnyaku that don't require refrigeration, can be stored long-term, and can be eaten anytime, anywhere, without cooking utensils?"

The moment she thought this, she realized that by removing the constraints of "time, place, and method of eating" from natto and konnyaku, their potential would greatly expand. It was also a way to bring the dream of "delivering natto and konnyaku to people overseas" closer to reality. And during the product development process, NATTO CHOCOLATE was born.

There are still many people in the world who don't know about natto. So, we thought of combining natto, a superfood that Japan is proud of, with chocolate, which is familiar to people all over the world. This was to lower the barrier for trying an unknown food and encourage people to give it a try. By freeze-drying natto, we preserved its original nutritional value and appeal, making it easier to eat.

Moreover, there are no compromises on the chocolate either. We use chocolate from Barry Callebaut in Belgium, which is Cocoa Horizons certified. We select ingredients that not only taste good but also consider sustainable cacao production. This is how NATTO CHOCOLATE was born, with a commitment to taste, quality, and responsibility for the future.

With the development of global distribution today, we can easily enjoy various foods from all over the world. However, not all of them are healthy choices.

At B-GENKI, we want to maximize the potential of natto and konnyaku, and provide an opportunity for people to think about what they consume daily. And we will continue to deliver foods that can contribute to a richer and healthier life to the world.

You are what you eat. What you eat makes you.