We believe that, as dietary habits diversify, so should the ways we enjoy nori. Beyond traditional flavors, we are exploring how to incorporate nori into new dietary habits, such as with bread, pasta, soups, and risottos. We seek to discover the full potential of nori, from its rich umami to its satisfying crunch. Adapting to diverse lifestyles, we aim to present various ways to relish nori.
How well do we truly know nori? Once, it was common to exchange nori as gifts for occasions like Ochugen and Oseibo. People used to savor young, tender nori during its seasonal peak, visiting producers and savoring the flavors of the land. The charm of nori is gradually fading, but genuine nori retains enduring allure. We want people to discover this charm by experiencing authentic nori, a gift from the sea and the land.
The current landscape surrounding nori is challenging. Dietary diversity is increasing, price-driven markets are expanding, and the environment for nori cultivation is changing. To ensure the continuation of nori for the next hundred years, we must collaborate with professionals from various domains. Producers, supporters of producers, distributors, communicators – uniting our diverse strengths, we contemplate what can be done now to preserve nori as a part of Japanese food culture for a hundred years.
Nori has been part of Japanese cuisine for over a thousand years. It was once a precious commodity exchanged among aristocrats. Through this rich history, something precious has become accessible to the masses, resulting in changes in how it’s eaten, made, sold, and shared. We aim to respect this cultural context, but also evolving it according to the times and creating new value. No only to protect the tradition, but also to embrace the change.