Company Overview

• Company Name
  Kosugi Foods Co., Ltd.
• Founded
  September 1933
• Incorporated
  August 1962
• Head Office
  401 Hanakaito, Nonbe, Kuwana City, Mie 511-0931, Japan
  View map here
• Factory
  401 Hanakaito, Nonbe, Kuwana City , Mie 511-0931, Japan
  View map here
• Business
  Manufacture and sale of natto （fermented soybeans）
• Capital
  10 million yen
• Annual Sales
  1,634 million yen（June 2024）

  1,502 million yen（June 2023）

  1,464 million yen（June 2022）
• Board of Directors
  President and Representative Director :Satoshi Kosugi

  
  

  Director :Tatsuhiro Kosugi

  
  

  Director :Akimasa Kosugi
• Banks
  The Hyakugo Bank, Ltd., Yada Branch
  San ju San Bank, Ltd., Masuo Branch
  The Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, Ltd., Kuwana Branch
  Kuwanamie Shinkin Bank
• Affiliation
  Japan Natto Cooperative Society Federation （JNCSF） （Tokai Natto Cooperative Association, regional chapter）

• 
  History of Packaging
• 
  Miyako Natto’s packaging has evolved over time.
• 
  A nostalgic package design that evokes the Showa era.

History

• September 1933
  Began producing natto （itohiki, the traditional “stringy” style） as Kosugi Shoten.
• August 1962
  Established Kosugi Foods Co., Ltd.

  Capital: 1 million yen

  Capital increased to 3 million yen.
• August 1972
  Constructed a new factory and relocated.
• July 1976
  Capital increased to 6 million yen.
• July 1979
  Opened the Yokkaichi Sales Office in the Hokusei Food Wholesale Complex.
• July 1991
  Capital increased to 10 million yen.
• November 1991
  Completed the new head office building.
• November 2000
  Completed the new Nonbe factory and relocated the head office.
• March 2001
  Certified by the Japan Grain Inspection Association as an organic JAS factory.
• September 2002
  satoshi Kosugi assumed the position of President and Representative Director.
• June 2003
  Began production and sales of organic natto made from domestically grown soybeans in Kanazawa.
• September 2003
  Launched “Tsuyudaku Natto.”
• May 2004
  Received the Director-General’s Award from the Tokai Regional Agricultural Administration Office for Nihon no otsubu （large-bean natto） at the 9th National Natto Appraisal Contest.
• April 2005
  Signed a technical partnership agreement with Ottogi Corporation （South Korea; now Otoki Corporation）.
• March 2007
  Obtained Mie Prefecture HACCP certification.
• May 2009
  Received the Chairman’s Award from Noshinkai （an affiliate of JNCSF） for Nihon no kuromame （black soybean natto） at the 14th National Natto Appraisal Contest.
• March 2010
  Introduced the DC-15 functional natto strain （starter culture）.
• February 2013
  Received the JNCSF Chairman’s Award （Merit Award） for kokusan kotsubu natto （domestically produced small-bean natto） at the 18th National Natto Appraisal Competition.
• June 2015
  Obtained Halal certification.
• February 2017
  Received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award （Grand Prize） for Nihon no kuromame （black soybean natto） at the 22nd National Natto Appraisal Contest.
• February 2019
  Received the U.S. Soy Sustainability Ambassador Award for tsuyudaku natto （natto with extra sauce） at the 24th National Natto Appraisal Contest.
• January 2021
  Obtained JFS-B Standard certification.
• February 2021
  Began generating solar power using solar panels.
• August 2021
  Began using biomass-based ink for cups and packaging film.
• June 2023
  Reduced plastic use in natto containers by 5% （compared with our previous products）.
• July 2023
  Obtained Vegan JAS certification.
• November 2023
  Received the U.S. Soy Sustainability Ambassador Award and the SSGA U.S. Award for “Tsuyudaku Natto” at the 27th National Natto Appraisal Contest.
• April 2024
  Registered as a Mie Prefecture SDGs Promotion Partner.

• 
  History of Ochibi-san
• 
  Kosugi Foods’ mascots—“Ochibi-san” and “the older sister giving Ochibi-san a piggyback ride”—once had a third companion: a child playing with a temari (a traditional Japanese handball).
• 
  Here is the original illustration. At the time, no one could have imagined that these characters would become such beloved icons of our brand.