History of Natto and Its Relatives (1405-2012 - SoyInfo Center

Hamilton, Ontario, formerly owned by Canada Packers Inc.
They purchased Victory Soya Mills in Toronto in early 1985.
So now 2 fi rms own 3 plants]. In 1986 the three plants made
95,108 tonnes of crude soy oil worth $57,271,000. Two fi rms
made deodorized soy oil, but the volume and value were
confi dential. Less than $2 million of any type of soy oil is
imported.
Consumption of soyfoods in Canada is strongly linked
to Asian-Canadians. A table (p. 32) shows that according to
the 1986 census, there were about 444,000 people of East-
and Southeast Asian origin living in three major Canadian
cities: Vancouver (155,105 people comprised 11.2% of
the city’s population), Toronto (234,325 people comprised
6.8%), and Montreal (55,585 people comprised 2.4%). Thus
Toronto was by far the largest market, but Vancouver had
the highest density of Asian-Canadians. A similar table (p.
33) updates the previous table to 1988. Immigration has
increased sharply since then.
Note: This is the earliest document seen (Feb. 2002) that
uses the term “food grade” (or “food-grade”) in connection
with Canadian soybeans (see p. 15). Address: Chatham,
ONT, Canada.
1325. Hasshô no chi: Nattô Shinpojiumu in Akita. Nattô was
sekai o sukuu!! [The birth place: Natto symposium in Akita.
Natto can save the world!!]. 1990. Akita, Japan: Akita-ken
Natto Kogyo Kyodo Kumiai. 5 p. [Jap]
• Summary: On 21-22 April 1990 a natto symposium
was held in Akita, a seaport and the capital city of Akita
Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan (northeastern
Japan). It is located on the Japan sea. Specifi cally, it was held
in the Akita-ken Sôgô Saikatsu Bunka Kaikan (a cultural
hall).
1326. Akita Sakigake (Akita Pioneer, Japan).1990. Nattô de
sekai “seiha” o. Inoki-shi ra netsuppoku kataru. Akita-shi
de shinpo [Natto conquers the world. Mr. Antonio Inoki and
others talked enthusiastically. Symposium (held) in Akita
city]. April 22. p. 3. [Jap]
• Summary: A photo shows four men seated behind a table
with the word “Natto Symposium” written in Japanese
characters on a banner behind them.
1327. Mainichi Shinbun (Akita Edition, Japan).1990. Kôen,
ryôri de oishisa jikkan. Akita Atorion, Nattô Shinpo ni
500 nin [Both the lectures and the sampling of foods were
delicious. At the Akita Atrion, there were 500 people at the
Natto Symposium]. April 22. p. 24. [Jap]
• Summary: The symposium was held in a building named
the Akita Atrion. A photo shows several ladies looking at
trays of natto dishes on a table.
1328. Mainichi Shinbun (National Edition, Japan).1990.
Zakki-chô [Miscellaneous notes]. April 22. p. 27. [Jap]
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HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 415
• Summary: About the Natto Symposium held in Akita
prefecture. A small photo shows a man standing behind a
microphone at a podium with the word “Symposium” written
in Japanese katakana on a banner behind him.
1329. Yomiuri Shinbun (Akita, Japan).1990. Nattô hasshô no
chi [The birthplace of natto]. April 22. p. 22. [Jap]
• Summary: A natto symposium was held in Akita city,
Japan.
1330. Yomiuri Shinbun (Akita, Japan).1990. Nattô no
kokusai-sei kyôchô. Akita de shinpojiumu [The international
aspects of natto were emphasized: Symposium in Akita].
April 22. p. 25. [Jap]
• Summary: A natto symposium was held in Akita city,
Japan.
1331. Yomiuri Shinbun (Japan).1990. Nattô Shinpo: Kakuchi
kara 400 nin tsudoi, nekki. Shokuryô kiki ni tokkôyaku.
Seijinbyô e no kôyô mo toku [Nattô Symposium: 400 people
gathered from various places, excited and enthusiastic. An
effective medicine for the world hunger. They talked about
its good effects on adult diseases]. April 22. p. 23. [Jap]
• Summary: A natto symposium was held in Akita city,
Japan.
1332. Shukan Asahi (Japan).1990. Nattô wa sekai o sukuu
[“Natto saves the world”]. April 27. p. 16. [Jap]
• Summary: Contains four frames of cartoons. A natto
symposium was held in Akita city, Japan.
1333. Asahi Shinbun (Evening Ed., Japan).1990. Sekai
ni itohiku? “Nattowaaku.” Nattô fan-ra ga kokusai taikai
keikaku, 11 gatsu [Natto-work (natto network) stretches and
connects its strings to the world. Natto fans are planning to
have an international gathering (symposium) in November].
May 2. [Jap]
1334. Toyo Shinpo (Soyfoods News).1990. 89 nen shinkoku
shotoku rankingu [1989 ranking of tofu, natto, and konnyaku
companies in Japan, based on reported income to the tax
bureau]. May 21. p. 1. [Jap]
• Summary: Rank–Company name (Food type)–Prefecture–
Reported income in million yen, ranking among all Japanese
industries. For food types: T = Tofu, DFT = Dried-frozen
Tofu, A = Aburagé (deep-fried tofu pouches), N = Natto, K =
Konnyaku:
1. Asahimatsu Shokuhin (DFT, A)–Nagano–843–5,504
2. Takano Foods (N)–Tochigi–445–10,464
3. Asahi Kôgyô (T + other foods)–Tokyo–444–10,490
4. San Shokuhin (T)–Kagoshima–417–11,204
5. Okay Shokuhin Kôgyô (A)–Fukuoka–362–12,867
6. Tajimaya Shokuhin (T, N, A)–Hyôgo–322–14,419
7. Azuma Shokuhin (T)–Tochigi–320–14,516