Methods of maintaining freshness in the marine foods industry are changing dramatically as a result of interaction between the technologies born in a small local laboratory and the worldwide networks of Honda Trading Corporation.

“To achieve extended freshness and conserve limited resources.”
Kenichi Hiraoka, the founder of Japan-Techno, was working at a food processing company in Fukuyama city when he decided to become independent in order to pursue his dream. In 1997, he began working on research, focused on more than ten kinds of seashells, into products that are useful in preventing food spoilage without being harmful to the human body.

Using young sardines, laboratory staff experimented with hundreds of different variations, adjusting mixture ratios with dozens of natural additives until they found the most effective combination. HT associates first encountered the process when visiting sardine suppliers and were astonished by its effect.

Since that initial encounter, we have sent a steady progression of healthy, flavorful foods to market, while continuing to promote technological advances and develop new products in conjunction with the laboratory. In April 2005, we took a more than 50% financial interest in Japan-Techno, and we believe that it will become increasingly important as a consolidated HT subsidiary.