MUSUBI Chiyomatsu, an e-commerce brand of Ito-beikoku, a rice store in Nagoya that has been in business for 80 years, has created KOMETE, a 100% organic brown rice cracker.

KOMETE is a rice cracker with a new sensation that was developed after 3 years of trial and error, looking for a delicious and easy way to eat nutritious brown rice.

Therefore, this time, we interviewed about the appeal of KOMETE and the secret story behind its development.

"KOMETE" where you can enjoy two types of products

At KOMETE, there are two types of senbei (rice crackers): “brown and white rice dip senbei” and “Sa, shi, su, se,so Genmai senbei”.

A new sense, "brown rice and white rice dip senbei"

Dip senbei is a senbei that you can enjoy like a cracker, and it uses fermented food that goes well with rice. You can enjoy two types of gifts, "Red Cheddar Cheese Iburi-gakko (smoked daikon radish pickle)" and "Kome Koji An Butter (rice malt red bean paste with butter)".

“Red Cheddar Cheese Iburi-gakko” is a blend of several types of red cheddar cheese to create a deep flavor, and a crunchy texture of shredded iburi-gakko. The smoked aroma is pleasant, and you can't help but drink sake.

“Kome Koji An Butter” has a light aroma of koji (malt) at the first bite. Next, the gentle sweetness of the red bean paste spreads out, followed by the buttery flavor. It is a smooth dip with a grainy texture.

The rice crackers are baked unglazed without seasoning, and are finished in an ultra-thin type with a crisp and light texture.

“Sa, shi, su, se, so Genmai senbei” that makes the most of the taste of the ingredients. "Sa, shi, su, se, so Genmai Senbei" is made using the seasoning "Sa, shi, su, se, so", which is the basis of Japanese cuisine. Seasonings are carefully selected from all over Japan. Not only is it delicious, but it is also a gem of a commitment that is gentle on the body.

The birth of KOMETE

The owner, Tamotsu Ito, and Kumiyo Ito, the general manager of the brand. It is handled by a husband and wife team.

We asked Mr. and Ms. Ito about the impetus for creating KOMETE.

President Ito:"Ito-beikoku is a third-generation rice store that has been in business for 80 years. Starting with sales at stores, we have also focused on our own website to communicate the appeal of rice. In that context, we also offered brown rice because we wanted people to eat brown rice with high nutritional value, but many people said 'not their taste' because of its unique texture.

It was just last year. When we launched a limited time offer of dumplings made from brown rice in the EC market, the response from customers was very positive. I thought that if I could create an easy-to-eat, delicious brown rice product, people would be more familiar with it, so I created a new type of rice cracker."

Ms. Kumiyo:“We use organic brown rice (Koshihikari) grown by Mr. Ozaki of Sakou Farm in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture. They are grown in pristine rice paddies where tadpoles swim, without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Genmai (brown rice) is so rich in vitamins and dietary fiber that it is said to be a complete nutritional food, and it also contains the immune vitamin “LPS”.

The senbei itself is also free of additives, chemical seasonings, and preservatives. (*Some of them use plant-derived pigments.) Therefore, you can eat them deliciously and healthily. ”

Environmentally friendly packaging

The picture of the bird represents the hand holding the rice ball.

President Ito:"We are particular about the design and materials of our packaging. To reduce environmental impact as much as possible, we keep packaging and wrapping as simple as possible and use a paper material called "kome-kami" made from rice that is no longer eaten for packaging.

The design was based on the wish that the recipient would use it for a special occasion, and was created with a modern design of cranes, turtles, and other Japanese symbols of good fortune, all in the traditional Japanese color of cinnabar.

As a Nagoya originated brand, it also has a Kinshachi (golden dolphins) in it. Also, by pairing each of them, we express the idea of the brand as a husband and wife duo, and of connecting people with each other.

I would be happy if you could use it in various situations as a gift to give to someone you care about. ”