History
More introductions. Better context.
Our editorial aim: connect curious eaters with practical guides while making space for the people who know the traditions.
A legend is not a birth certificate.
One account links straw-wrapped beans to a military journey. The historical starting point is less certain than a tidy story suggests.
Everyday food in the Edo period.
The agriculture ministry describes natto in household food traditions during the Edo period.
Mito meets the railway platform.
Sales associated with the opening of the Mito Railway helped connect the regional food with travelers.
The package changes. The questions continue.
Straw and pinewood formats sit alongside modern containers in the story of how natto reaches people.
Traditional wrapping still takes work.
Preserving a recognizable food tradition includes maintaining the craft and supply of its packaging.