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

(#50). [50+ ref. Jap]
• Summary: Koji means “ancient things” or “origins.” Rui
means “varieties” or “description.” En means “dictionary.”
This is one of the best books for doing historical research on
Japanese culture, including foods. The book is divided into
30 major subject areas, such as Food and Drink. Within that
section all basic Japanese foods and beverages are listed.
After each one is listed many of the important early works in
which that food is mentioned, with a quote of what is said.
Furigana are used liberally to assist with pronunciations
of hard-to-pronounce early document names and terms.
Compiled from 1896 to 1914, volume 1 of the original
edition is dated 1908. The works cited are from ancient times
to 1867. The fi nal volume is an index to the whole.
The volume on Food and Drink is titled Inshoku-bu (Vol.
51). Whole soybeans, p. 229-35. Black soybeans, p. 235-
36. Green soybeans (ao-daizu), p. 236-37. Green vegetable
soybeans (edamame), p. 239-40. Soybean cultivation, p.
240-42. Soybean utilization, p. 243-47. Daizu-ko Mochi,
p. 555. Amazake, p. 695-97. Shirozake, p. 697-98. Hishio
(Chiang), p. 836-40. Shoyu, p. 840-49. Miso, p. 851-68.
Kuki (fermented black soybeans), p. 868-71. Natto, p. 871-
74. Tofu (incl. Dengaku), p. 984-1005. Yuba, p. 995-96.
97. Sawer, E.R. 1911. Cedara memoirs on South African
Agriculture. Vol. II. Containing reports on feeding
crops and livestock experiments in South Africa. Natal/
Pietermartizburg, South Africa. 371 p. See p. 131, 177, 183-
218. Report X. The Legumes as Grain and Oil Crops: Soya
Beans. [15 ref]
• Summary: A superb, early overview of soybeans and their
uses in South Africa and England. Contents: An agricultural
romance. Early experiments with the soya bean [in Europe
and South Africa]. Export trade from Manchuria. The
course of prices. Consumption in Great Britain. Botanical
character. The commercial aspect. History of the oil market
during 1910. The adaptability of the bean. Germination
of seed. Climatic requirements. Classifi cation of varieties.
Variety tests at Cedara: Black seeded (Buckshot and Nuttall
tested in 1906), brown seeded, green seeded (Samarow and
Guelph), yellow seeded (Mammoth and Hollybrook, planted
Nov. 1908). The cultivation of the crop. Times of planting.
Distances of planting. Manure experiments at Cedara.
Nodule formation and composition of the plant. Harvesting
soya beans. Storage of seed. Comparative yields of grain.
Soya bean oil. Uses of the oil [for cooking, paint, soap, etc.].
Soya beans as human food (incl. natto, tofu, miso, yuba,
shoyu {p. 209-11}). Digestion experiments [on humans in
Japan]. Milling experiments. Soya beans as stock food and
fertiliser. Live-stock experiments. Soya cake as fertiliser.
Soya bean as green forage.
Concerning industrial utilization: The Vice-Consul-
General at Yokohama writes that “the annual value of
fertilisers employed in this country (Japan) amounts on an
© Copyright Soyinfo Center 2012
HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 64
average to about £8,000,000 represented in equal proportions
by artifi cial fertilisers and soya bean cake.” The year 1908
was exceptional, however, in that the value of the bean cake
was 3.5 times that of the artifi cial fertilizers.
During 1910 the linseed oil reached its highest price
in 50 years. Soya oil, now produced in large amounts in
Manchuria after the Russo-Japanese war took its place. It
was used in making paints, candles, and soaps. “Soya bean
oil has been found eminently suitable for the soap-makers’
purpose on account of its low content of free fatty acids and
of unsaponifi able matter or impurities. In the latter respect
it has been shown superior to any of the other oils or fats
of commerce, whether of vegetable or animal origin. The
glycerine, which is secured as a by-product of soap and
candle manufacture, is subsequently distilled for explosives,
such as dynamite, blasting gelatine, cordite, etc., and for
various purposes in the arts, for fi lling gas-metres, for the
manufacture of inks, printers’ rollers, etc. The residue from
the distillation of glycerine is used in the manufacture of
boot blacking.”
Concerning germination (p. 191): At Cedara: “The
fi rst crop was planted in 1903, and a maximum yield of
920 lb. of grain obtained per acre. In the following season,
characterized by unfavourable weather conditions, the
heaviest yield on a new series of plots was 780 lb. per acre. A
third season’s trial on the same ground, however, witnessed
a marked increase with local seed, the heaviest crop totalling
1,252 lb. of grain.”
Concerning soybean cultivation in British colonies
in Africa (p. 192): “Early last summer the late Sir Alfred
Jones shipped to West Africa soya beans for experimental
purposes, and it was subsequently reported by Mr. A.G.
Turner, who was entrusted with a special mission to
encourage this culture on the west coast, that the soya bean
could be successfully cultivated throughout the Gambia,
Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Gold Coast Colony, but that
the yield to the fi rst experiment had only been from six to
eight bushels per acre, there having been a considerable loss
owing to faulty germination. Later results, however, were
phenomenally successful.”
Concerning soybean trials in South Africa (p. 192-93):
“During the past year favourable results have been received
from Umzinto [from Messrs. Archibald and Co., 52 miles
south of Durban; elevation 300 feet], Nel’s Rust Estate [64
miles north of Durban; elevation 2,710 feet], Nottingham
Road [elevation 4,807 feet], and Naval Hill [Mr. J.R.T.
Clouston of Garrow planted a few acres in 1908], Colenso
[elevation 3,200 feet], and Cedara [82 miles by rail from
Durban; elevation 3,540 feet; a number of varieties were
tested in 1906] in Natal; and from Barberton and Pretoria in
the Transvaal.”
Concerning comparative yields (p. 203): “As a grain
producer, the soya bean compares very favourably with other
leguminous crops, such as fi eld beans, peas, etc. At Cedara