soybean field

USSEC Participates in 21st National Natto Competition Award Ceremony in Japan

USSEC Japan participated in the 21st National Natto Competition Award Ceremony held at Seiyoken in Ueno, Tokyo in conjunction with the 62nd annual board meeting of the Japan Natto Cooperative Society Federation to present an award to the winner of 2016 Red River Valley U.S. Award.
The Red River Valley U.S. Award was established by USSEC in the U.S. Soybean Prize Category in the 2011 National Natto Competition in collaboration with the Northern Food Grade Soybean Association (NFGSA) to build the total brand value of U.S. Soybeans in the natto industry.
NFGSA vice chairman Bob Sinner presented the Red River Valley U.S. Award certificate and plaque to the winner. Jess Pauslon, Agricultural Attaché from the U.S. Embassy Tokyo, made a congratulatory speech during the ceremony highlighting the U.S. commitment to consistently supply U.S. soybeans to the Japanese natto industry, and praised the natto industry for making a concerted, enthusiastic effort to promote the value of natto.
The winner of the 6th Red River Valley U.S. Award was Sasanuma Goro Shoten, located in Ibaragi Prefecture. Company president Hiroshi Sasamuma has been printing his U.S. soybean farmer’s name and U.S. flag on his natto product for several years.
Current soy use for Japanese natto production per year is 126,000 metric tons (MT) and the natto retail market size in value is approximately $1.8 billion USD, a 14 percent increase between 2011 and 2014.
USSEC and FNGSA will continue to commit to the Japanese natto industry. U.S. Soy supplies 80 percent of the natto industry’s needs, strengthening sustainable U.S. Soy sales and preserving brand loyalty.

(Left to right):  Jess Paulson, U.S. Embassy Tokyo; Bob Sinner, NFGSA; Red River Valley U.S. Award winner Mr. Sasanuma, Sasanuma Goro Shoten; USSEC Country Director – Japan Mitsuyuki Nishimura; and USSEC North Asia Regional Human Utilization (HU) Manager & Japan HU Director Masi Tateishi
(Left to right): Jess Paulson, U.S. Embassy Tokyo; Bob Sinner, NFGSA; Red River Valley U.S. Award winner Mr. Sasanuma, Sasanuma Goro Shoten; USSEC Country Director – Japan Mitsuyuki Nishimura; and USSEC North Asia Regional Human Utilization (HU) Manager & Japan HU Director Masi Tateishi
(Left):  Highest Award plaque by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; (right):  Red River Valley U.S. Award winner plaque by NFGSA
(Left): Highest Award plaque by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; (right): Red River Valley U.S. Award winner plaque by NFGSA