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Recalling our Corporate History in Photographs
In recent years, the sushi industry has seen an explosion in the popularity of rotating sushi bars, which has helped
to make delicious sushi more accessible to people.
Thanks to this trend, demand for gari, or sweetened pickled ginger, has risen significantly! We have entered an era in which the mass production of gari is now essential.
We produce a product under the brand name Shingari-Kanseihin. In both its commercial and retail versions, it is currently a favorite choice among many sushi restaurants and households. The history of this product until its perfection traces the very foundations of Endo Foods Co., Ltd., as it stands today.
Let us now take a walk down memory lane as we recall our corporate history in photographs.
to make delicious sushi more accessible to people.
Thanks to this trend, demand for gari, or sweetened pickled ginger, has risen significantly! We have entered an era in which the mass production of gari is now essential.
We produce a product under the brand name Shingari-Kanseihin. In both its commercial and retail versions, it is currently a favorite choice among many sushi restaurants and households. The history of this product until its perfection traces the very foundations of Endo Foods Co., Ltd., as it stands today.
Let us now take a walk down memory lane as we recall our corporate history in photographs.
【Page 1】
April 1961: Endo Foods Pickle Manufacturer founded
At this time, Tanma-cho (currently located in the vicinity of Shimokikoma-cho in Sano City) was a ginger-growing region and was also an abundant source of basic ingredients. In addition, this area was also home to a flourishing pickling industry that produced pickles using locally grown ginger. After joining a pickling company, President Sakae underwent training and in April 1961, founded Endo Foods Pickle Manufacturer as a one-man concern.
May 1, 1973: The company is incorporated as Endo Foods Processing Co., Ltd.
At the time of our establishment, we would purchase domestically produced ginger from agricultural cooperatives, wash them, and pickle and preserve them in a high saline solution in large barrels (measuring approximately three meters in height). In the beginning, we sold sweetened pickled ginger whole. However, in considering ways in which we could more conveniently provide our products to sushi restaurants, we were inspired to use planes utilized by carpenters to thinly slice ginger.
With a device that was improved to facilitate the slicing of ginger, we carefully sliced each piece by hand.
With a device that was improved to facilitate the slicing of ginger, we carefully sliced each piece by hand.
That’s a huge barrel!
It’s said that the original recipe for Shingari-Kanseihin was the product of extraordinary efforts and research!
It’s said that the original recipe for Shingari-Kanseihin was the product of extraordinary efforts and research!
Shifting towards the overseas procurement of basic ingredients
Gradually over time, the volume of domestically produced ginger fell and thus began the practice of procuring basic ingredients from overseas.
While materials were purchased from Taiwan for about ten years, the industrialization of Taiwan resulted in higher commodity prices. As the prices of basic ingredients also soared, we shifted our focus to the Philippines. However, as goods of a decent level of quality were not produced there, we looked to Thailand instead as a source of our imports.
For the next twenty to thirty years, we purchased goods from Thailand and continue to do so even today.
Nevertheless, with the poor state of local peace and order and the lack of any means of transportation in mountainous areas in those days, procurement was a truly difficult task. By seeking to mechanize our operations at an early stage while importing large amounts of basic ingredients from overseas, we managed to attract human resources and expand on an ongoing basis.
While materials were purchased from Taiwan for about ten years, the industrialization of Taiwan resulted in higher commodity prices. As the prices of basic ingredients also soared, we shifted our focus to the Philippines. However, as goods of a decent level of quality were not produced there, we looked to Thailand instead as a source of our imports.
For the next twenty to thirty years, we purchased goods from Thailand and continue to do so even today.
Nevertheless, with the poor state of local peace and order and the lack of any means of transportation in mountainous areas in those days, procurement was a truly difficult task. By seeking to mechanize our operations at an early stage while importing large amounts of basic ingredients from overseas, we managed to attract human resources and expand on an ongoing basis.
Nevertheless, with the poor state of local peace and order and the lack of any means of transportation in mountainous areas in those days, procurement was a truly difficult task. By seeking to mechanize our operations at an early stage while importing large amounts of basic ingredients from overseas, we managed to attract human resources and expand on an ongoing basis.
While passing through many perilous situations, the president toured numerous regions in search of ginger as the basic ingredient!
September 8, 1977: Shingari-Kanseihin trademark registration
『Shingari-Kanseihin was a new product that presented customers with a chance to purchase gari (sweetened pickled ginger) in a completed state (kanseihin), hence the name. Both Shingari-Kanseihin and Shingari are registered trademarks of Endo Foods Co., Ltd.
Shingari-Kanseihin: Trademark number 773567
Shingari: Trademark number 2581751
Registration Symbol®
Shingari-Kanseihin: Trademark number 773567 Shingari: Trademark number 2581751 Registration Symbol®
It was no easy matter to win the support of sushi chefs, who have exacting and particular standards in such matters, for our Shingari product. However, by repeatedly undertaking a trial-and-error process and carefully exploring ways in which we could enhance the taste of Shingari, our Shingari-Kanseihin earned the backing of many sushi chefs who declared that this product was, in their words, “Delicious!” Shingari was shipped in those days to sushi restaurants in eighteen-liter cans, a type of packaging still in use today. Small packets for retail sales were also produced. 
Photo of an original can of Shingari-Kanseihin
Package design can be identified as one factor behind the popularity of Shingari-Kanseihin. The design of Shingari-Kanseihin, which is still in use today, evokes the drop curtain used by the then-popular Kabuki Theatrical Corporation and was created by borrowing the red, yellow, and green color scheme that can be seen in the form and coloring of characters commonly used in that world.
This design corresponded to the positive image of dynamic vitality associated with native Tokyoites and was heralded by Tokyo-style sushi vendors as a design perfectly suited to sushi. The package design in use today still evokes the same visual associations as did the original design. In the forty-five years since our founding, we have always maintained the same great taste and delivered a delectable delight to our customers.
Current design of commercial packaging for Shingari-Kanseihin 
