Every souvenir shop has products that may be too small to serve as the main gift but are perfect as one extra item.
Almost every region now has its own yuru-chara mascot. These characters make it immediately clear where you have visited, and their cuteness makes the products easy to buy.
The appeal becomes even stronger when the product design stays true to the mascot’s original concept.
I found this item in Ibaraki Prefecture. The local mascot Nebaaru-kun is printed prominently on the package, and the container even uses the familiar shape of a real natto pack. There was no question that I had to buy it for its novelty value.
I purchased it at Makuraga no Sato Koga, one of Ibaraki’s largest roadside stations.
At this point the flavor almost seemed secondary, but here is the full review.
Nebaaru-kun Natto Senbei (Kamejirushi Confectionery)
A package of nine costs ¥540.
The packaging alone completely persuaded me to buy it.
It features Nebaaru-kun, the “natto fairy,” together with a playful slogan meaning, “So delicious you’ll get stuck on it-nebaa!”
It looks exactly like real natto from the refrigerator.
The only giveaway is that, because the contents are rice crackers, it feels far too light when picked up.
Nebaaru-kun appears on the side as well.
And again on the opposite side.
The package I bought had about two months remaining before its best-before date.
Three realistic polystyrene natto containers are stacked together.
Even the fine details of the foam container imitate the real thing.
The back is carefully reproduced too.
Now, let’s open it.
Each pack contains three crackers.
The lovable Nebaaru-kun is printed on the individual wrappers too.
It is a thin baked rice cracker approximately five centimeters in diameter.
Information about Nebaaru-kun is printed on the back.
The smell of natto appears the instant the wrapper is opened. Impressive!
What did Nebaaru-kun Natto Senbei taste like?
Large quantities of freeze-dried chopped natto cling to the surface.
Now, let’s eat.
My first bite brought an unexpected, firm crack rather than a light crispness.
My initial thought was, “Is this slightly stale?” Yet with every chew, the savory flavor of natto spreads further.
There is even genuine stickiness. The sweet soy-sauce coating mingles with the freeze-dried natto and tastes delicious.
Natto lovers will find this irresistible.
The plain cracker itself has little flavor, but the natto pieces are boldly sweet and savory, almost like eating natto over rice.
The concept has enormous impact, the package is exceptionally cute, and Nebaaru-kun fans will find it impossible to resist.
The individual wrappers also carry the mascot, so the crackers are easy to hand out as novelty souvenirs.
Receiving only one as an “Ibaraki souvenir” might feel slightly insufficient, but placing the packs in an office for everyone to crunch together could be great fun.
Thank you for the meal!
For more Ibaraki souvenirs, see the page below.
Nebaaru-kun Natto Senbei Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Nebaaru-kun Natto Senbei |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Kamejirushi Confectionery Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 2139-5 Migawacho, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan |
| Expiration Date | Approximately 2 months from purchase |
| Place of Purchase | Michi-no-Eki Makuraga no Sato Koga |
| Price | ¥540 |
