--- description: A Century of History in Every Bite title: Global Kigyo - TIME - Partner Content - A Century of History in Every Bite image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt63f88ded079fe080/6a4580d563380225421b0e85/page_8_image_1_(1).png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- # A Century of History in Every Bite  Kiyoken is bringing Yokohama cuisine to the world with its delicious ekiben offerings.  ▲ Kiyoken stands are a much-loved sight on train platforms across Japan Taking the _shinkansen_, or bullet train, in Japan is a great joy for travelers to the country and daily commuters alike. Hurtling along the tracks at speeds of over 200 km per hour in quiet, spacious, air-conditioned comfort makes other forms of transport seem somewhat outdated. For many, a trip on the bullet train would not be complete without an _ekiben_—specialized bento boxes sold at train stations (_eki_), perfect for the long journey ahead. Among Japan’s most famous ekiben producers is Yokohama’s Kiyoken, a company whose history is intertwined with Japan’s railway culture since 1908.Its signature dish is _shiumai_: bite-sized dumplings inspired by their traditional Chinese counterparts, for which Kiyoken has become synonymous with in Japan. In Kiyoken’s recipe, meticulous attention to detail begins with the use of carefully selected ingredients such as Hokkaido scallops and domestic pork. It culminates with the small ceramic soy sauce container, _hyo-chan_, included with every pack of shiumai. Kiyoken crafts all of its dishes to be just as delicious hot as they are cold. Refrigerated, frozen and vacuum-sealed packaging allows customers to enjoy their shiumai at home, if they wish. “Yokohama lacked an iconic product,” said Akira Nonami, president of Kiyoken, reflecting on his company’s legacy in the region. “That is why our first president, Mr. Mokichi Nonami, created shiumai as a signature Yokohama dish 98 years ago. Since then, shiumai has accompanied people in many settings, as a travel companion, a snack at sporting events or something to enjoy during cherry blossom season, while also representing Yokohama and the greater Kanto region.” Kiyoken’s vacuum-packed _Tuna Shiumai_ is their latest addition, infused with sweet and spicy ginger ▼  Kiyoken sells 30,000 of their iconic ekiben “Shiumai Bento” on average per day ▼  The buzz overseas surrounding Japanese food, with more people traveling to the country to try its authentic cuisine, has led Kiyoken to enter new markets. While transplanting ekiben culture may take some time, Nonami is confident that demand is there. “We believe that shiumai can serve as an accessible introduction to our brand and help customers experience the quality and reliability we stand for,” he said. After a strong success at last year’s Osaka Expo, the company has launched its vacuum-packed tuna shiumai as a special addition to its lineup. Nonami is actively working to bring his products to the global market. “Partnerships with local stakeholders will be essential to creating the right environment for expanding into new regions,” he said. Global Kigyo - TIME - Partner Content - A Century of History in Every Bite ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/a-century-of-history-in-every-bite/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/a-century-of-history-in-every-bite/"},"headline":"A Century of History in Every Bite","datePublished":"2026-07-18T16:53:54.596Z","dateModified":"2026-07-18T16:53:48.948Z","description":"A Century of History in Every Bite","url":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/a-century-of-history-in-every-bite/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/global-kigyo/a-century-of-history-in-every-bite/","name":"A Century of History in Every Bite"}}]}] ```