この教材で英語力アップ！
語彙から始めて、理解チェックやまとめ、ディスカッションに挑戦してみましょう。
Vocabulary
Collaboration -Working together with others to achieve a shared goal.
The collaboration between the city and Calbee helped turn a local food culture into a national product.
Specializes– To focus on or have expert knowledge in a particular subject or activity.
The restaurant owner specializes in traditional natto dishes made with local ingredients.
Prototype– An early test version of a product used for evaluation.
The company created several prototypes before choosing the final flavor.
Memorable– Easy to remember or leaving a strong impression.
A strong and unique taste can make a snack more memorable for consumers.
Reputation– The general opinion people have about a person, place, or organization.
The city hopes to strengthen its reputation as Japan’s biggest natto consumer.
Article
How Fukushima Is Transforming Natto into a Snack Sensation
A city in northeastern Japan is working with major snack company Calbee Inc. to create a new potato chip flavor made with natto, fermented soybeans. This project began after the city regained its title as Japan’s biggest per-household spender on natto in 2024. The collaboration aims to turn the city’s love for natto into a unique regional product.
On December 14, a workshop was held in Fukushima City to gather ideas from people who enjoy natto. The event took place in the Sakaemachi district and included nine university students, a restaurant owner who specializes in natto dishes, and Calbee employees. The goal was to share opinions and creativity.
Former Calbee President Shuji Ito, now a senior adviser, also attended the workshop. He encouraged participants by emphasizing the importance of keeping national interest in Fukushima alive. According to Ito, this interest can lead to successful products that reach people across Japan.
During the workshop, participants tasted four prototype flavors of natto potato chips. These included versions with sauce, mustard, and pickled Chinese cabbage, which is popular locally. After discussing the results, the group chose the pickled cabbage flavor and began talking about improvements and package design.
Yuna Sasaki, a 20-year-old student at Fukushima University, shared her thoughts after the tasting. Originally from Akita, another natto-loving area, she felt that a stronger natto flavor would be more memorable. She said the experience was valuable because she hopes to work in the food industry.
Calbee has a history of creating local flavors. In 2016, the company released a potato chip inspired by a Fukushima dish made with squid and carrots. The flavor became a smash hit and led Calbee to develop regional chip flavors for all 47 prefectures starting in 2017.
Calbee explained that holding workshops in local areas is unusual, but Fukushima City wanted to promote its reputation as Japan’s top natto consumer. The company also wanted to make a common ingredient like natto feel special by collecting ideas from many local residents.
The product will be further improved during a second workshop planned for February 2026. If development goes smoothly, Calbee plans to release the natto-flavored chips around July 10, known in Japan as “Natto Day.”
Source: Mainichi (English)
Comprehension Questions
Answer the questions following the article in English.
- Why did the city choose to work with Calbee on this project?
- Who participated in the natto idea workshop?
- How did Calbee’s earlier local-flavor product influence future plans?
- Why was holding a local workshop important for both Calbee and the city?
Summary
In your own words, attempt to summarise the article in 4 sentences or less.
Discussion
Discuss these topics with your tutor, and support your answers with examples or experience.
- How can community involvement improve a company’s image?
- What makes a food product “memorable” to consumers?
- Should companies prioritize local identity when creating new products? Why?
Simpor Academyに登録して、英会話レッスンを体験してみましょう！
・実践重視のオンライン英会話プラットフォーム
・レッスンは1回25分、日常会話からビジネス英語まで対応
・教材はすべて無料！フリートークだけでなく、教材を使った実践的な英語レッスンも選べます
🎉 新年応援キャンペーン開催中！
2026年1月1日～1月31日までの期間限定
期間内に新規登録すると、
✨ 英会話レッスン4回分（4,000ポイント）をプレゼント！ ✨
「英語を実践したい」
「学んだことをアウトプットしたい」
「自分に合う先生で、継続して学びたい」
そんな方は、まずは気軽に体験レッスンから始めてみてください。
英語を“使える力”に変える第一歩を、Simpor Academyで踏み出してみませんか？
